3 Korean Thrillers to Send Shivers Down Your Spine (Even More Than Parasite Did)

The recent Parasite became the first foreign film to win the Oscar for Best Picture. But there are many other works that rival Shutter Island or even Seven in terms of suspense.

1. Train to Busan

Released in 2016, this movie was a huge success in Korea and beyond. The plot unfolds during the zombie apocalypse as a trainload of passengers heads to Busan, the only safe place.

The film tells the story of a father and daughter fighting for their lives as they try to make their way to the city, where they hope to find refuge.

The movie brilliantly combines suspenseful atmosphere, emotional moments and thrilling action scenes. Great acting and quality direction make this one of the best pictures in the genre.

2. The Handmaiden

A film from one of the top directors in Korea, Park Chan-wook, who gave the world Oldboy and The Vengeance Trilogy.

The movie is about a young woman who gets a job as a maid in the house of a wealthy family. However, she soon realizes that there are dark secrets lurking in this place.

The film deeply analyzes the themes of class inequality and power, and beautifully conveys an atmosphere of suspense and mystery. The narrative is full of intrigue, unexpected twists and exciting pacing.

The Handmaiden became a cult classic and won many awards, including the Best Actress prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

3. Burning

A movie that became a revelation for many thriller fans. Released in 2018, this Korean motion picture immediately won the hearts of audiences around the world. Director Lee Chang-dong has created a true masterpiece that grabs you from the first minutes and never lets you go.

The movie is about an ambitious writer, Lee Jong-su, who falls in love with a girl from his village. When his sweetheart returns from a trip to Africa, it turns out that she met Ben, a young man with a luxurious lifestyle.

One day, the couple visits the writer, and Ben tells him about his secret hobby. From that moment on, Lee Jong-su loses his peace and starts feeling foreboding.

The movie has a unique plot that makes it impossible to predict how events will unfold. It raises important questions about love, loneliness and manipulation, forcing the viewer to think about facets of human psychology.