Noise

From director Kim Soo-jin and screenwriter Lee Je-hui, the South Korean horror film Noise sees Seo Ju-hee (Han Soo-a) obsessing over her apartment being totally silent. She is seen sound proofing her home at the beginning of the film with one small section left undone in the ceiling. Ju-hee has been hearing things; something that clicks, scratches, and knocks. That open spot hints at being the source of the sound. Meanwhile, Ju-hee’s downstairs neighbor calls her from the front door phone and appears at her doorstop every night threatening absolute quiet or he’ll become violent.

Ju-hee’s sister Ju-young (Lee Sun-bin) is deaf and works at a factory. She used to live with her sister in the same apartment, but moved out to live in a work dormitory and because her sister was hearing things that she never did. Now it’s been four days and Ju-hee is missing. It’s up to Ju-young and Ju-hee’s boyfriend and co-worker Ki-hoon (Kim Min-seok) to figure out what happened to Ju-hee and whatever the source of the noise is.

Noise utilizes sound the same way that Sound of Metal did. Ju-young has hearing aids and a speech recognition app on her phone that the film toys with in different ways. When Ju-young turns off her hearing aids and the film goes quiet, her phone will pick up a speech pattern that translates to unsettling texts. People who hear this noise become brainwashed in a way and lash out in murderous ways. You’d think someone who has a hearing disability would be immune, but Ju-young is just as in danger as everyone else. Noise explores the fact that no one is safe.

For much of the film’s duration, Noise plays with the fact that Ju-hee could be the only one hearing this noise. Her interactions with Ju-young while they lived together have Ju-hee hearing things that Ju-young never did (she can hear when both hearing aids are on). So you’re left wondering if Ju-hee is overly sensitive to sound or if she’s hearing things that don’t actually exist.

The supernatu...

Noise transforms everyday apartment noise into psychological terror, following Joo Young as she searches for her missing sister while confronting guilt, trauma, and an unseen threat. The film builds a strong atmosphere through sound design and social commentary on poor housing conditions, though its rushed ending, ambiguous twist, and thin character exploration weaken the impact. Despite its flaws, it remains an unsettling watch for viewers who appreciate moody, socially aware horror.

Read the full review here: (Indonesian version : alunauwie.com) and (English version : uwiepuspita.com)