A Thai-Korean production, once more demonstrating the asian continent produces the best horror. Presenting as a pseudo-documentary on shamanic practices in the region, the movie mines a wealth of unique folklore and perspective before beginning overtures to a possession plot centered around a shaman’s niece. There is pointed commentary about individual family dynamics, along with disturbing insight into those on a self-destructive streak, wrapped in the skin of a possession story. There is a lot of material info-dumped very quickly, which demands a very slow first act as we learn about the shamanistic history behind one family, the quirks of the individual members, and their personal histories. The second act delves into a mystery, as the shaman attempts to uncover the nature and history of what afflicts the possessed while the darkness and intensity of manifestations are increasing. What starts as creepy behavior and disturbing patterns quickly evolve into full blown violent episodes, and by the last act, things have moved into abjectly horrifying. While initially following predictable story beats, the localized rituals and setting allow for escalation into a last act of absolute pandemonium. While the first half of the movie is somewhat methodical and leisurely, the last act becomes an absolute roller-coaster of horrific sights, thrills and gore. Issues with the found-footage format persist here, as there are numerous instances that make no sense for the filmmakers to be present or still filming and we get no real sense of the documentary crew’s investment or motivation. Despite a slow first act, familiar beats and tropes, and the inherent limitations of the found-footage format, the last act of this film over-delivers on the most horrific sights and sounds 2021 has to offer.
The Medium (2021)