Umma tells the disturbing story of a woman haunted by her mother’s ghost. Amanda (Sandra Oh) and her daughter Chris (Fivel Stewart) live on a farm without technology as Amanda claims she’s allergic to electricity. When Amanda receives the cremated ashes of her late mother, strange incidents happen that affect her relationship with Chris.
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The movie portrays motherhood, the immigrant experience, and psychological trauma through supernatural lenses. What sets Umma apart is its focus on Korean folklore, but it’s not the first movie to do so. Korean cinema has produced some of the scariest horror movies in recent years. If you enjoyed the taste of Korean horror in Umma, there's plenty more out there for you.
'A Tale of Two Sisters' (2003)
After finishing treatment at a mental institution, teenager Su-mi (Im Soo-Jung) reunites with her sister Su-yeon (Moon Geun-young) at home. They don’t get along with their stepmother, Eun-joo (Yum Jung-ah), and Su-mi suspects that she is abusing her sister. But things get worse when she starts having nightmares of her late mother.
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A Tale of Two Sisters received critical and commercial acclaim by providing a fresh take on psychological horror. It’s a scary, hallucinatory exploration of sisterhood and family secrets that culminates in a shocking ending. You have to see it to believe it. Watch it on Shudder.
'Hansel and Gretel' (2007)
Eun-soo (Chun Jung-myung) meets with a car accident that leaves him stranded in a forest. He meets a young girl who takes him to a beautiful house where she lives with her parents and two siblings. But his attempts to leave the house are unsuccessful, making him realize that the children hold a terrifying secret.
Like the fairy tale of the same name by the Brothers Grimm, Hansel and Gretel feature children trying to survive in a dangerous world. With dreamy sequences and fantasy elements, the movie makes ordinary things like dolls, books, and trees seem creepy. In this haunting fable, some things are too good to be true. Watch it on Apple TV.
'Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum' (2018)
The host of a horror-based web channel, Ha-Joon (Wi Ha-joon), decides to visit the abandoned Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital, where there are rumors of paranormal occurrences. He brings along a crew to live broadcast as they explore the building. But they soon encounter nightmarish incidents and have to fight for their lives.
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A masterful take on found footage horror, Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum sets an ominous tone from the start and doesn’t relent until the end. The claustrophobic camera shots and clever visual effects made for an ominous, tense watch. The fact that the hospital is a real place adds to the spookiness in every scene. Watch it on Amazon Prime.
'The Mimic' (2017)
Five years after their son went missing, Hee-yeon (Yum Jung-ah) and Min-ho (Park Hyuk-kwon) moved to the countryside with their daughter and Min-ho’s mother. Hee-yeon discovers a little girl in the woods and takes her in. Soon the girl mimics her daughter’s voice and calls her “mom.” She begins to suspect that the girl might not be human.
As a portrayal of a family’s loss, The Mimic is frightening and poignant. The story is inspired by the Korean folklore of the Jangsan Tiger, which lives in the mountains and can imitate human speech. The movie successfully conveys every parent's worst nightmare through solid acting, eerie settings, and emotional scenes. Watch it on Apple TV.
'The Closet' (2020)
Sang-won (Ha Jung-woo) and his daughter Yi-na (Heo Yool) move into a new house after his wife’s death. He’s not concerned when Yi-na talks to a new imaginary friend until the day she goes missing. Sang-won meets the mysterious Kyung-hoon (Kim Nam-gil), who claims that his daughter has disappeared inside her room's closet, where something evil resides.
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The Closet focuses on a father and daughter whose relationship worsens after a malevolent entity enters their lives. It’s scary knowing a spirit is living inside your house, and this movie shows that effectively. While it employs the usual jump scares, the emotional core of a father-daughter relationship makes the film worth a look. Watch it on Apple TV.
'Possessed' (2009)
College student Hee-jin (Nam Sang-Mi) returns home when she hears that her 14-year-old sister So-jin (Shim Eun-kyung) is missing. She reports to the police, but her mother refuses to help. Instead, she resorts to constant prayers to bring her daughter back. Hee-jin’s investigation suggests that her sister might have been demonically possessed before her disappearance.
Reminiscent of The Exorcist, Possessed (also known as Living Death) shows how faith can become dangerous in the wrong hands. The movie mixes religious fanaticism, shamanic beliefs, and the supernatural to a chilling effect. It relies on slow-burn, moody scenes to set the tone. Watch it on Amazon.
'The Red Shoes' (2005)
Sun Jae (Kim Sung-soo) and her daughter Tae-su (Park Yeon-ah) move into an old apartment after separating from her husband. Sun Jae finds a pair of pink shoes on a subway and brings them home. Unbeknownst to her, the shoes carry a curse, and soon, people around her are dying. She must find the truth behind the shoes to save herself and her daughter.
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Inspired by the fairy tale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen, The Red Shoes is a dark tale of obsession. Stylish and gory, the movie uses different timelines to show the influence of the cursed shoes. While certain scenes require a suspension of disbelief, it’s an entertaining horror movie with plenty of twists. Watch it on Vudu.
'Cinderella' (2006)
High school student Hyun-su (Shin Se-kyung) lives with her mother, Yoon-hee (Do Ji-won), a plastic surgeon who values beauty above all. Hyun-su’s friends have all undergone cosmetic surgeries performed by her mother. But after the procedures, they feel the urge to cut their own faces. Hyun-su realizes that her mother is hiding something.
Cinderella looks at the fixation on plastic surgery with horrifying results. The mother-daughter relationship that starts strong begins to deteriorate as secrets are revealed. The fairy tale that inspired this movie becomes clear once all the relevant characters come into play. It’s a tragic depiction of the quest for beauty at all costs.
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