The hybrid version of this year's Florence Korea Film Fest shows a versatile program including films from different genres. Among the thrillers “Intruder” by Son-Won-Pyung is one of the most convincing. It's not only the suspenseful story and an outstanding cast that captivate the viewer. On a formal level, too, the director found several elements to reinforce the thrilling atmosphere.
“Intruder” is screening at the Florence Korea Film Fest
One of the protagonists of the film is Seo-jin. He is an architect and the father of the young Ye-na. Since his wife has been killed in a hit-and-run accident, he and his daughter live with his parents. He desperately tries to recall details from the accident in order to find the culprit. But his parents are not very supportive. In fact, especially, his mother still longs for her own daughter that has gone missing twenty years before. To accommodate his parents, Seo-jin works hard and neglects somehow his and his daughter's feelings. Then suddenly his sister reappears out of the blue. Seo-jin is skeptical, Yoo-jin seems very strange. But in no time, she convinces their parents and moves in with them. She seems very supportive and affectionate. She takes over the house chores and hires new staff. Seo-jin is alarmed when the old housekeeper disappears without leaving a trace. No one though shares his suspicion. Yoo-jin enchants everyone, even his daughter who literally eats out of her hand.
There is a striking similarity between “Intruder” and “Parasite”. Again we have a family and a house and someone who tries to infiltrate it. The plan is successful, although this time one of the family members is aware of the operation. The problem is that nobody believes him. This makes the story even more thrilling, since the viewer identifies with the protagonist. Seo-jin works hard and is devoted to his family, but faces a lot of reproaches and rejection. The more he struggles and wants to protect his family, the more they distance themselves from him. It needs one word from his alleged sister to reassure the family. His words and conclusions mean nothing. His parents think he is jealous. And that he is under the influence of drugs he takes to cope with the loss of his wife. This powerlessness is palpable from the very beginning. Kim Mu-yeol delivers an intense and very credible performance as Seo-jin. He shows different facets of his character. There is disappointment, anger and deep grief. But also persistence and faithfulness.
Overall, the characterization is exceptionally complex. Also the role of the intruder herself has multiple levels. Till the end, it remains unclear if she really is the biological sister of Seo-jin. There are hints that she might be, but finally it doesn't make any difference. Song Ji-Hyo who plays the role of Yoo-jin has this ability to switch between the manipulating bitch and the loving daughter very fast. Her composure in all the situations is impressive and works perfectly in interaction with her counterpart, Seo-jin.
Among the memorable supporting roles are the housekeeper and the mother, played by So Hee-Jung and Ye Soo-Jung. Especially Ye Soo-Jun, a veteran of Korean film, is able to give depth to her character. She is somehow disturbing. As a mother she is supposed to be gentle and nice to her son. But actually she holds a grudge against him for more then twenty years. She still thinks it was his fault her daughter went missing. Her passive-aggressive tone is very effective and adds a layer of uncomfortableness to the atmosphere.
What makes “Intruder” so fascinating are the different levels of the story. The primary invading situation in itself is already strong. The methods the intruder uses are more or less subtle, but still very efficacious. It's very intelligent to let the viewer take the position of one of the protagonists. For a long time everything seems crystal clear, but at times it blurs a little bit and a certain doubt on Seo-jin's integrity arises, only to be reconfirmed, eventually. This back and forth functions rather well thanks to the formal approach of the film. This includes fast editing and precise framing of the scenes. Particularly the illustration of the mental troubles of Seo-jin underline an atmosphere of ambiguity. With him, the viewer gets dizzy from the effect of the drugs and slips into his memories during the hypnosis. How accurate is what he recalls and does he have hallucinations?
Another thrilling story line is the part with the satanic cult. Sects and religious fanaticism can work very well in thrillers, since the loss of rationality makes the figures unpredictable and dangerous. This is why the thriller and horror genre make use of this topic with predilection. In “Intruder” the cult is connected to a third theme important to the film, namely family. How much is someone willing to indulge for the sake of his family? And is it possible to overcome the loss of a child?
Director Son Won-Pyung, in her first feature, creates a well shot and intriguingly told thriller. She relies on a strong cast and trusts in a reduced but coherent aesthetic. Concentrating only in few locations and mainly on the family house underlines the claustrophobic and menacing situation. “Intruder” is rich of original ideas even though the structure is based on some well-known dramaturgical elements. It's an achievement of the directors that she manages to add new aspects to it.
