In his first feature film, Sleep is a 2023 South Korean black comedy horror mystery thriller that Jason Yu wrote and directed. Before its September 6, 2023 release in South Korea, the picture, which stars Jung Yu-mi and Lee Sun-Kyun, made its world premiere on May 21, 2023, at the Critics’ Week portion of the Cannes Picture Festival.
The protagonists of the tale are Soo-jin and Hyun-su, an expectant couple coping with anxiety and terrifying dreams of sleepwalking. The movie takes a terrifying turn as Hyun-su’s sleepwalking gets worse and involves eating raw meat and other unsettling behaviours.
Following the discovery of Hyun-su’s REM sleep condition through a sleep study, the pair makes humorous attempts to address the problem. The story takes a turn towards a paranoid possession thriller with a ticking clock when a shaman is introduced, implying a supernatural element.
At ninety-five minutes, Sleep is a distinctive film that delves into the couple’s tenacity in the face of otherworldly obstacles. It’s safe to say that SLEEP will make viewers think beyond the box. Upon finishing the film, there is a persistent urge to rewatch it to verify specific scenes or dispel any remaining doubts.
Prepare yourself for a rollercoaster journey of feelings, ranging from shock to incredulity to horror. There is a lot to process, and viewers may leave the movie feeling disoriented and depleted.
Soo Jin is expertly portrayed by Jung Yu Mi, who displays a wide range of emotions that help viewers relate to her predicament. However, Lee Sun Kyun confronts Hyun Su’s character head-on and, in his unique way, shows his wife how much he loves her throughout the entire film.
Plot Of The Movie
In the 2023 South Korean film “Sleep,” newlyweds Hyeon-soo and Soo-jin’s story is told. Their tranquil existence takes an unsettling turn when Soo-jin learns that Hyeon-soo exhibits strange behaviour and sleepwalking. As the night passes, Soo-jin worries more and more about her husband’s behaviour, especially because she fears for their infant.
The movie examines the difficulties the couple encounters as Hyeon-soo’s sleepwalking worsens, with each episode exposing increasingly concerning conduct. As Soo-jin’s fear increases, the couple tries several measures, such as baby-proofing their house and getting aid from a doctor.
A shaman is introduced, giving the story a mystical edge and raising the possibility that Hyeon-soo’s sleepwalking is related to a ghost. A unique blend of horror and thriller, Sleep explores the strange and suspenseful aspects of the couple’s existence as they deal with the unnerving fallout from Hyeon-soo’s midnight activities.
Sleep Korean Movie Ending Explained
“Sleep,” a Korean film, centres on the lives of Soo-jin and Hyun-su, an expectant couple dealing with tension and nightmares of sleepwalking. Hyun-su’s sleepwalking becomes more severe, and it becomes terrifying. Their dog dies, they consume raw meat, and they attempt suicide.
When Soo Jin (Jung Yu Mi) saw her husband Hyun Su (Lee Sun Kyun) inform her that “someone’s outside,” it all began. Although many may perceive it as a typical event, the circumstances are not. As he says those two words to his wife, Hyun Su is dozing off.
A sequence of events transpires consequent to Hyun Su’s habit of sleepwalking. Hyun Su is an actress who struggles, while Soo Jin works at an office. Despite this, both husband and wife are loving toward each other. When Hyun Su’s sleepwalking takes a dark turn, Soo Jin becomes more and more concerned because they are expecting a child.
After a sleep study indicates that Hyun-su has REM sleep disorder, the first half of the movie focuses on humorous attempts to address the problem. Ineffectively, the couple attempts to baby-proof the home, install locks and bells, and even take medication.
When a shaman is presented, the story takes a paranormal turn, implying that Hyun-su has been haunted by a ghost while she is asleep. The movie goes into a paranoid possession phase with a ticking clock theme while the protagonist, Soo-jin, struggles with the supernatural element.
The movie moves quickly and excitingly, but the closing act annoys the audience with an abrupt time jump that skips important plot moments and introduces new guidelines. The conclusion is unimpressive because the resolution seems too conventional.
The film’s direction, sound design, and leading performances make it worth seeing despite these flaws, but the final act lets the whole promising debut down.