Suddenly in the Dark – original title: Gipeun bam gabjagi – is a 1981 South Korean supernatural horror film directed by Go Yeong-nam [Young Nam Ko] from a screenplay by Sam-yuk Yoon. It stars Il-bong Yun, Yeong-ae Kim and Ki-seon Lee.
Mondo Macabro have announced they are releasing the film as a limited edition Blu-ray on October 31st, initially limited to just 500 copies.
Press release:
This amazing, almost unknown film is full of uncomfortable sexuality, cheap visual effects, creepy dolls, shamanism, butterflies, and murder – all set to a searing, original synth score!
Contrary to some popular belief, Korean horror didn’t start in the late 90s, it had been a staple genre in that country for many decades prior, with the early 1980s being a particularly rich period. Unfortunately, these films remain almost completely unknown outside of the ROK. Just the sort of challenge we love! Suddenly in the Dark is one of the very best pre-millennial K-Horrors: genuinely frightening and utterly bizarre.
A woman’s idyllic middle-class life is disrupted when her husband brings home a beautiful young orphan to be their maid. At first she welcomes the pretty girl, in fact seems oddly fixated on her, but soon comes to suspect the girl of having an affair with her husband. At the same time odd, unexplained incidents – most involving the maid’s mysterious wooden doll – began to make her question her own sanity. Soon it all spirals out of control as the film climaxes in a fever pitch of sexual jealousy, murder, and supernatural vengeance, all set to a pounding synth score.
Almost completely unknown outside of its home country, Suddenly in the Dark is one of the best examples of pre-millennial K-horror. It was made at a time when censorship law were being liberalized, igniting a boom in both horror and erotic films. Elements of both are present here, directed with bizarre flair by Go Yeong-nam in a style often compared to the wilder Italian films of the 70s and 80s.
Mondo Macabro is proud to present this classic of Korean horror on Blu-ray for the first time anywhere in the world. Our presentation has been restored from the best available elements from the Korean Film Archive, and features brand new extras produced exclusively for this release.
Special Features:
-Interview with producer Suh Byung-gi
-Interview with critic Kim Bong-seok on the history of Korean horror films
-Classic K-Horror VHS Cover Art Gallery
-Teaser Trailer
-Mondo Macabro Promo Reel
-Limited edition booklet with brand new essays on the film by Grady Hendrix and Christopher Koenig
-New Cover Illustration by artist Naomi Butterfield
The release will be available directly from Mondo Macabro
