House of the Disappeared – aka 시간위의 집; Si-gan-wi-ui jib – is a 2017 South Korean horror film directed by Dae-wung Lim [as Lim Dae-Woong] from a screenplay by Jae-hyun Jang. The film is a remake of Alejandro Hidalgo’s Venezuelan hit The House at the End of Time (2013). It stars Kim Yunjin, Ok TaecYoon and Jo Jae-yun.
Falsely arrested for murdering her husband, a woman returns to the house where the incident occurred after twenty-five years of imprisonment to solve the mystery surrounding her husband’s death and son’s disappearance…
Reviews:
“Featuring a genuinely surprising twist that, unless you’re familiar with the film it is based on, seems to come out of nowhere, House of the Disappeared plays by its own rules from top to bottom. Small details in the first act end up becoming important details in the finale.” Blair Hoyle, Cinema Slasher
“The House that Disappeared is an intense horror mystery thriller with a complicated plot delicately handled by the production team. the violent acts are few but the threat is prevalent throughout the film. the actors do not make a wrong step in an emotional piece that I can recommend.” Norman McGlashan, Flick Hunter
“As with the original, the loose ends are eventually tied. Not all audiences will ‘get’ that – which is also okay, because the film feels like it may mean to do that. The confusion assists the horror aspect of the plot. The twists themselves are well executed, as is the acting.” Daria Gamliel, Cinetalk
“Viewers who’ve seen the relatively recent original film might find this slightly slow-paced as it has to sell quite complicated concepts while posing as a familiar paranormal drama – with shock apparitions, lots of interior gloom, jump scares and the like.” The Kim Newman Web Site
“Disappeared is one of the few remakes that seems to offer the story a more suitable home. The Catholicism is still there, but the added elements of feng shui and shamanism give it more texture and depth. Highly recommended, especially if you haven’t seen the Venezuelan original…” Joe Bendel, J.B. Spins
“Aside from being well-built, it’s got a few pretty decent scares as well. It’s not closed to all jump scares, but the filmmakers know when is okay to give the puzzle-oriented stuff a bit of a kick. There’s a fun sort of inversion going on at times, as the people who supposedly know about the paranormal occasionally get more freaked out than Mi-hee, and a very good slow build of Chul-joong’s alcoholism and anger as a threat…” Jay Seaver, eFilm Critic
Cast and characters:
- Kim Yun-jin as Kang Mi-hee
- Ok Taec-yeon as Priest Choi
- Jo Jae-yoon as Chul-joong
- Park Jun-myeon
- Lee Han-wi
- Baek Do-bin
- Park Sang-hoon
- Yoo In-young [cameo]
- Park Won-ho
- Go Woo-rim
- Ryu Won
