The essence of horror does not lie in a collection of jump scares scattered throughout a story, which is what many blockbuster entries within the genre seem to be, but rather a growing sense of dread. While the rollercoaster-ride-experience many modern horror movies provide is fine for the time being, you will probably still find yourself going back to the classics of the genre, if you want a more lasting impression and images which will haunt your imagination. Many of these classics or cult movies have garnered their reputation, along with the appreciation for the artistry involved, over time, for example, Ko Young-nam's 1980 horror tale “Suddenly in Dark Night”. It is a feature worth exploring further, especially for its blend of dread and eroticism, its psychological themes and exploration of gender roles.
Suddenly in Dark Night is screening at Udine Far East Film Festival
For many years, Seon-hee (Kim Young-ae) has been married to biology professor Kang Yu-jin (Yoon Il-bong). Even though he is often on business trips, giving lectures at the university or expeditions into the local forests, trying to find rare butterflies and insects, their relationship is quite good and satisfying for both of them. Given his salary from the university and for various publications in his field of study, they also live a rather luxurious life, with their house close to the kind of nature Yu-jin needs for his studies and his passion. However, when he comes back from one of his expeditions, the image of a wooden statue he took by mistake catches the eye of Seon-hee. In the following days, it haunts her dreams and she experiences nightmares, along with a sense of foreboding, which her husband does not quite comprehend.
After another expedition Yu-jin brings home Mi-ok (Lee Ki-seon), a young girl he ran into in the woods. Although she is suspicious, Seon-hee agrees to take her in, giving her clothes and a room in the house, and also a job as a housemaid. Over the course of the next weeks, Seon-hee grows increasingly suspicious of the new member of her household, suspecting her and Yu-jin to have an affair which they do not seem to hide all that well from her eyes. When she also finds out Mi-ok owns the very same wooden doll which causes her nightmares, her suspicions turn into anger.
Whereas the impact of many horror movies unfolds upon the first viewing, “Suddenly in Dark Night” is a feature whose images and themes will likely keep its viewer up for quite some time. Rather than relying on scares, Ko Young-nam relies on an increasing sense of suspense and unease, supported by her cast, especially Kim Young-ae's performance. Through the use of sound distortion and overlapping images, the director and his cinematographer Jeong Pil-si give their viewer an impression of the way the protagonist loses her grip on reality, and how we cannot rely on her perception as being the truth anymore. This insecurity is quite effective, making the horror about the loss of control and what someone takes for granted.
Additionally, the idea of losing your sanity is combined with an exploration of gender roles. As highlighted by the dialogues with some of her friends, Seon-hee is satisfied with her way of life and her marriage, thus having fulfilled her purpose in life in the eyes of others. In this context, the presence of Mi-ok is perceived as a direct threat, even though it is not quite clear, whether her affair with Yu-jin is an illusion. The contrast between male and female roles could not be more obvious in the way her husband remains sane, highlighting his sense of reason by pointing out the flaws in Seon-hee's thinking without actually understanding her. Again, Ko Young-nam's direction and the way Yoon Sam-yook implements these themes into the script, make “Suddenly in Dark Night” a rather interesting exploration of gender roles, status and how one defends the kind of life one is used to.
In conclusion, “Suddenly in Dark Night” is blend of horror and drama. Ko Young-nam has managed to make a feature whose technical aspects, cast and the themes it explores result in a very haunting, unsettling experience.
