The Wailing Ending Explained, Plot, Cast, and More

Fin here The Wailing ending explained and get ready to unlock the secrets of the South Korean horror film The Wailing, check the plot, cast, trailer and ending of this haunting masterpiece.

by Tamilchandran

Updated Apr 25, 2023

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The Wailing Ending Explained, Plot, Cast, and More
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The Wailing Korean Movie

Kwak Do-won, Hwang Jung-min, and Chun Woo-hee star in Na Hong-jin's 2016 South Korean horror movie The Wailing. The main character of the movie is a police officer who, in an effort to save his daughter, looks into a string of unexplained illnesses and killings in the far-flung Korean village of Gokseong. The movie was a box office and critical hit. On May 12, 2016, The Wailing was made available in South Korea.

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The movie premiered in the United States on May 27 after premiering on May 18 in the Out of Competition section of the Cannes Film Festival in France. The movie was eventually made available on Netflix, but it has since been removed from the service. Other streaming providers including Fandango Now, VUDU, Hulu, and Apple TV also offered The Wailing for viewing.

The Wailing Ending Explained

The Wailing's conclusion is ambiguous and has generated a lot of discussion among viewers. In the climactic sequences, Jong-goo, the main character, faces off against the enigmatic Japanese stranger who is thought to be a supernatural force behind a string of horrifying killings in his hamlet. Jong-goo has a knife in his hand, but the stranger disables him with an unidentified power before he can attack. Hyo-jin, Jong-goo's daughter, who had been possessed by demonic spirits the entire movie, shows up and appears to defend the stranger. 

The stranger tells Jong-goo's friend Il-gwang that Hyo-jin is really responsible for the killings before Il-gwang comes and seems to kill him with a shot. In the film's concluding scene, Jong-goo and Hyo-jin are left alone in a distant cave, and the plot is left open-ended. The Wailing's conclusion is purposefully ambiguous and open-ended to allow for several interpretations. The following are some explanations for the conclusion:

Psychological vs. Supernatural Interpretation:

One interpretation is that rather than being strictly supernatural phenomena, the events in the movie are a representation of the protagonists' moral and psychological struggles. As Jong-goo ultimately fails to shield his daughter from her possession and the effects of her acts, the conclusion could be interpreted as a representation of his personal battle with guilt and his inner demons.

The futility of violence:

The movie might possibly be making a point about the violence's vicious cycle and the ineffectiveness of employing violence to address issues. The fact that Jong-goo finally fails to defeat the evil and save his daughter despite his valiant efforts to use physical force to combat the supernatural threat suggests that violence may not always be the best course of action.

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Moral Ambiguity:

The Wailing's conclusion prompts discussion of the nature of good and evil as well as the hazy boundaries between the two. The viewer's beliefs in children's innocence and the idea of absolute morality are called into question by the revelation that Hyo-jin is the real murderer. The movie also examines cultural and religious issues, such as the conflict between traditional Korean shamanism and Christianity and the effects of past and present conflicts between Korea and Japan.

The conclusion, which leaves viewers to determine its relevance, could be interpreted as a statement on the complexity of these cultural and religious influences. Finally, The Wailing's climax purposefully leaves room for viewers to engage in their own interpretation and speculation. It is a challenging and ambiguous ending that encourages additional contemplation of the movie's themes and ideas, making it a frightening and unforgettable cinematic experience.

The Wailing Plot

The Wailing is a South Korean horror film directed by Na Hong-jin that centers on a tiny town where a number of unexplained murders have been occurring. The story follows the inept local police officer Jong-goo as he looks into the horrific deaths. He runs into a Japanese stranger who is thought to be a supernatural force behind the killings as the case develops.

Hyo-jin, Jong-goo's daughter, too becomes unwell and shows signs of possession, forcing him to deal with an evil force that is beginning to endanger his family and neighborhood. Jong-goo encounters moral conundrums, cultural confrontations, and the hazy boundaries between good and evil as he explores deeper into the mystery. As Jong-goo races against time to discover the truth and face the evil force that has befallen his community, the plot is full of turns and twists that heighten tension and suspense.

The Wailing Plot Twist

The Wailing is renowned for its complex storyline and multiple unexpected turns that keep viewers on the edge of their seats. The discovery that Hyo-jin, Jong-goo's daughter, is the real murderer is one of the movie's main plot shocks. Jong-goo becomes fixated on finding the Japanese stranger throughout the duration of the movie because he thinks he is to blame for the fatalities in his community.

But as the plot develops, it gradually becomes clear that Hyo-jin, who has been acting possessed, is the one responsible for the murders. It is a surprising sequence of events that challenges Jong-goo's assumptions and flips his investigation on its head.

The Wailing Cast

Cast

Character

Kwak Do-won   

Jong-goo, the policeman and father of Hyo-Jin   

Hwang Jung-min     

Il-gwang, a shaman hired to protect the village

Chun Woo-hee

Moo-myung, the woman in white

Jun Kunimura

A Japanese stranger

Kim Hwan-hee

Hyo-jin, Jong-goo's daughter

Her Jin

Jong-goo's mother-in-law

Jang So-yeon

Jong-goo's wife

Kim Do-yoon

Yang I-sam, a Japanese-speaking deacon

Son Gang-guk

Oh Seong-bok, Jong-goo's police partner

Park Sung-yeon

Kwon Myeong-joo

Kil Chang-gyoo

Park Choon-bae

Jeon Bae-soo

Deok-gi

Jeong Mi-nam

Heung-gook

Choi Gwi-hwa

Byeong-gyoo

Lee Seon-hee

Byeong-gyu's wife

Jo Yeon-hee

Bar hostess

Baek Seung-cheol

Friend I

Kwon Hyeok-joon

Friend II

Park Chae-ik

Friend III

Kim Gi-cheon

Dispatch captain

Yoo Soon-woong

Chief of Police

Jo Han-cheol

Detective 1

Kim Song-il

Police I

Bae Yong-geun

Police II

Im Jae-il

Police III

Lee In-cheol

Father

Jo Seon-joo

Bar hostess

Lee Chang-hoon

Doctor

Kim Ji-won

Nurse

The Wailing Where to Watch?

In certain countries, you may watch the movie The Wailing on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, etc. Other streaming providers including VUDU, Hulu, and Apple TV also offered The Wailing for viewing.

The Wailing Netflix

  • Open the Netflix website or app on your compatible device.
  • Sign in or sign up: If you are not already a Netflix subscriber, you will need to sign up for an account. If you already have a Netflix account, sign in with your email and password.
  • Search for "The Wailing": Use the search bar on the Netflix website or app to search for "The Wailing 2016". You can either type in the title or use the voice search function if available.
  • Check availability: Once you find the movie in the search results, click or tap on it to view its details page. Check if "The Wailing 2016" is available for streaming in your region. If it is, you should see a play button or an option to add it to your watchlist.
  • Click or tap play: If The Wailing 2016 is available for streaming, click or tap on the play button to start watching the movie.

The Wailing Prime Video:

  • Open the Amazon Prime Video website or app on your compatible device.
  • Sign in: Sign in with your Amazon account if you are not already signed in.
  • Search for "The Wailing 2016": Use the search bar on the Amazon Prime Video website or app to search for "The Wailing (2016)". You can either type in the title or use the voice search function if available.
  • Choose rental or purchase: Once you find the movie in the search results, click or tap on it to view its details page. You should see options to either rent or buy the movie.
  • Click or tap on "Rent" or "Buy": Choose the option that you prefer - "Rent" if you want to rent the movie for a temporary period of time, or "Buy" if you want to purchase the movie and have permanent access to it.
  • Complete the transaction: Follow the prompts to complete the rental or purchase transaction, which may involve selecting the desired video quality, confirming the payment method, and confirming the rental or purchase price.
  • Start watching: Once the rental or purchase is complete, you should be able to start watching "The Wailing on Amazon Prime Video. You can either stream it online or download it for offline viewing, depending on the options available.


Disclaimer: The above information is for general informational purposes only. All information on the Site is provided in good faith, however we make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability or completeness of any information on the Site.

The Wailing Ending Explained - FAQs

1. Who is the real ghost in The Wailing?

The dark spirit in The Wailing is Moo-myung. He tells Jong-goo to head home immediately. That will set the trap free, he is aware. When Moo-myung first encounters Jong-goo, he warns him that his family would all perish if he returns home.

2. Who is the mysterious woman in The Wailing?

The unidentified woman in The Wailing is named Woo-hee Chun.

3. What is the plot of the movie The Wailing?

When rural villagers connect a string of gruesome killings to the entrance of a mystery visitor, suspicion turns into a frenzy.

4. What makes The Wailing so scary?

The use of ambiguity in The Wailing is the secret to its terrifying effectiveness.

5. Is The Wailing worth watching?

The 156-minute running duration of The Wailing is entirely worth watching. 

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