Sabaha

The first act is a bit messy with too much information. As soon as you passed that, it's a brilliant cult supernatural thriller.

A Korean pastor who specialises in investigating crooked or corrupt religious movements stumbles upon a series of murders that seem to be connected to ancient mythology. A complicated horror mystery with a strong sense of foreboding that makes for a confusing watch at times, but which comes good in the end.

This is would be much better if it weren't so messy. The plot is interesting, camera work is good, actors were decent and the effects were ok. For me, there are problems.

There are times where I almost felt that I was watching four different stories. Story one is about a girl and her twin sister, who is a demon or evil. Story two is about a cop who is working a murder case. Story three is about a group of boys who were sent to juvie for various reasons and came out on a mission. And, story four is about a pastor who investigates cults.

It isn't unusual to have several storylines that are interlaced and this one is but it has been done in an odd way. There are characters who are introduced but we see very little of them throughout the film. It is also a bit convoluted when it came to giving a clear understanding about all that was going on but I will be fair in saying that I was watching the film with subtitles and some things may have been lost in translation.

This is marketed as a horror film but it felt like a thriller to me. I watch a lot of horror though and I may be somewhat desensitized. Nothing about it every really rose to a level of horror. Creepy. Maybe. Not horror though.

It isn't a terrible movie. It was hard to follow.

A thought-provoking and refreshing religious movie that is able to stand on its own simply based on its concept. The film features a cast of interesting, albeit slightly underused characters. However, I feel the film's downfall is that it tried too much around what is a rather simple lore. Some scenes felt unnecessary but the final plot twist worked very well.

For those movie-watchers who admire mystery, occult and exorcism movies, this movie is definitely a great recommendation. It is directed by Jang Jae-Hyun, who is awarded as the Best New Director from his also blockbuster movie, The Priests. The story line is a whole mind-bugging narrative. The way the scenes unfold is clear and interesting. The tone is set right. Thanks to the convincing cinematography and the talented acting of the casts and convincing direction of Jang Jae-Hyun himself. The director did great in choosing how the story is told. The beginning of the movie left me with lots of questions and the ending gave me the right answers to them. The pacing of each scene is satisfying because it is neither too fast nor too slow. It is just the right amount. The cinematography added flavor to the overall taste of the movie. The coloring and lighting really helped in making the movie more engaging to watch. The set felt alive. The setting really contributed to the enthralling sensation. The pacing is clearly organized. It was full of mystery at the beginning of the movie and I love how each scene is tied together to form a worthwhile ending. I am a big fan of this genre and I am greatly satisfied with this movie. I always admire how Koreans are creative with their stories and how skillful they are to putting the actions alive in a movie. I will not hesitate to recommend this movie to my friends.