Song Il-Gon Makes A Return To Horror with SAHWA!

Posted by Todd Brown at 5:12pm.

Posted in Film News , Horror, Asia.

Oh, this does me good ... it’s been a long dry period for stellar Korean director Song Il-Gon of Git, Flower Island and Spider Forest fame. Despite racking up critical acclaim across the globe for his earlier efforts Song’s announced feature Telephone Girl seems to have fallen through and his last completed feature, the single take Magician(s) remains completely unavailable on DVD anywhere in the world, a situation that makes Todd a very sad boy because I really, really want to see it. Though largely overlooked in the midst of the Korean wave that made Park Chan-Wook, Bong Joon-Ho, Kim Jee-Woon and a handful of others internationally famous Song is every bit as good - and on many levels better - than his much flashier peers and I’ve found myself wondering rather a lot lately when he would reappear with a new project.

And Sahwa is it. A historical horror film whose title translate to “royal massacre” the film will track a bloody feud between rival families claiming the throne, a feud that eventually leads to supernatural repercussions. Given that Spider Forest - Song’s most overtly genre picture to date - is far more concerned with the psychology of its characters and is more unsettling than frightening and that this one is being produced by the same company as was behind A Tale Of Two Sisters I’ll be surprised if it comes out as a full blooded horror film and expect a more thoughtful genre hybrid but who knows ... he’s proven he’s not shy with unsettling imagery when the situation calls for it. Regardless, I’m just ecstatic to see him working again. The film shoots in March.

Reader Comments

Simon Abrams 01/14/2008 @ 7:05pm

Excellent news. I had forgotten the man existed, which is a shame because Magicians, GIT and Spider Forest are all quality films. I should rewatch Spider Forest and watch Flower Island.
methosb 01/15/2008 @ 5:19am

I too am dying to see Magicians. At least I’m not alone :(

Can’t wait for something new from him.
Gillesc 01/15/2008 @ 9:52am

Magicians was better than anything I saw. I’m really glad Song ilgon is comming back ; I waited for this for so~ long.