Best of Frightfest: ‘Oldboy’ Dir. Park Chan-wook

Best of Frightfest: As the twentieth anniversary of Arrow Video Frightfest approaches, we at team THN take a look back at some of the best and brightest films that have screened over the last two decades. It’s time today to delve into Oldboy.

Oldboy premiered at Frightfest a staggering 15 years ago, and like the live octopus eating scene, it was deliciously morbid. To some, Oldboy may not exactly fit the horror genre, being a straight up crime thriller, but this is FRIGHTfest, not Horrorfest, and what transpires over the course of a gruelling two hours can only be considered frightening. Park Chan Wook’s tale of revenge, based on a Japanese manga, also lead the way in Korean new wave cinema. Released in South Korea in 2003, it made a holy trinity when paired with Kim Jee Woon’s A Tale of Two Sisters, and Bong Joon Ho’s Memories of Murder.

The film starts with Oh Dae Su (Choi Min Sik) undergoing a terrifying ordeal, as he is snatched from a street and imprisoned for 15 years without any known reason. This makes the 15 year anniversary (also celebrated by a brand new 4k restoration in cinemas now) even more poignant. The very thought of being stuck in a solitary room, eating the same dumplings every day, wondering about the fate of your loved ones, and with only a TV for company, is spine-tingling to even consider. It becomes even more of a nightmare when Oh Dae Su sees on the news that his wife has been murdered, and he has been framed for it.

Once released, he is given an ultimatum by his captor Lee Woo Jin (Yu Ji Tae); discover why he was imprisoned, or innocent sushi chef Mi Do (Kang Hye Jeong) will be killed and he’ll never know the truth. What follows is an intense an unnerving exploration into the nature of revenge, fuelled by Oh Dae Su’s rage. Park creates such a foreboding atmosphere that we become one with both the protagonist and antagonist. We want Oh Dae Su to succeed, but at the same time know the truths that await will be disastrous. At the same time, we want to know the truth even though it will destroy this character we have come to care for.

The sense of dread becomes sickly at times, and every step Oh Dae Su takes forward, we know he is falling further and further into a trap. A lot has been written about the final reveal, but even after 15 years, it is so powerful, I am still unable to mention it out of fear it could spoil someone’s first time viewing. Needless to say, it is one of the most horrifying reveals in cinematic history, and is done so expertly that the gradual build up allows the viewer to figure it out, before quickly passing through the five stages of grief.

It’s lasting legacy, incredible score, unmatchable performances, and a ferocious sense of glee in the macabre, has propelled Oldboy to classic status. Along with films such as Amelie and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, it also warmed up general audiences to be accepting of subtitles in the early 00s. Of course, a US remake still followed, and was met with all the enthusiasm you’d expect. Oldboy may not scare you immediately, or have you jumping out of your seat, but just try placing yourself in the shoes of Oh Dae Su. What he goes through, what he endures, and what he discovers, will stick with you for years to come.

Arrow Video Frightfest returns for its twentieth year on 22nd August 2019. Full details about the event can be found on the Frightfest website.