[The Wig]
Plot:In Seoul, Su-Hyeon is terminal with leukemia, and bald due the treatment of chemotherapy. Her sister Ji-Hyeon buys a long-haired wig, but she does not disclose the truth about Su-Hyeon's health condition to her beloved sister. While wearing the wig, Su-Hyeon recovers her health and hits Ji-Hyeon's former boyfriend Ki-Seok, changing her behavior and relationship with her sister. When Ji-Hyeon discovers that the wig is possessed by a fiend, she finds that it was manufactured using hair of a cadaver and a dark secret about Ki-Seok's sentimental life.

Cast:Min-seo Chae, Hyon-Jin Sa, Seon Yu.

My Thoughts:One of the lesser Korean horrors.

Review:Asian horror has been satisfactory for as long as it started invading the U.S. But it does have it's misses every now and then. Such as Shin-yeon Won's South Korean horror film, "The Wig"....which is about a woman who is stricken with leukemia and her sister takes it upon ehrself to purchase her a wig, after her sister is balded due to chemotherapy treatments. This wig is no ordinary patch of hair though, as is made evident at the beginning of the film in what is one of the movies more eerie sequences.

It carries a curse and some really evil and dark ju-ju with it. When the woman Ji-Hyeon buys it, and places it atop her sister Su-Hyeon's head...it isn't long before the wig starts to unleash it's hidden abilities. Now Ji-Hyeon has to stop it's evil before it's too late for her and her sister. "The Wig" is not one of the stronger Korean horrors for one simple reason...it is just not as scary as other asian horror films. It really only contains one or two eerie sequences, which are very powerful in their weirdness but lacking any true, spine-tingling impact.

The picture really works more as a drama/horror...instead of a horror/drama. There's simply more drama to be had here than horror, and that's a shame considering that this film had the opportunity to do some really intriguing, unique, and interesting things with it's story. After all....it has a supernaturally possessed wig at it's disposal. Think of the possibilities. I know asian horror filmmakers can take the least little thing, and make a horror film worthy of viewing out of it. But in this films case, maybe going the serious, "All My Children"-esque drama route wasn't the best choice.

We spend most of the film waiting for the wig to "wig out"...so to speak, and really do some damage. But all we get are a few trippy flashback sequences, dream sequences, and illusion sequences. The wig is simply content to tease yet never deliver. And that is what is most annoying, and disappointing about the film. It's drama side is strong though, and the acting is definitely above average. While that may be a positive to some, as a horror fan...expecting horror from a horror movie, or what's listed as a horror movie...I felt "The Wig" simply waited too long to kick things into "scare" mode.

It builds up very slowly, having Ji-Hyeon's sister growing a full head of hair, and slowly being changed personality wise by the evil patch of hair. A plot twist which anyone could've seen coming. When you strap a possessed hair-piece onto someones head, there's bound to be some personality changes sooner or later. Most likely for the worse. Which is exactly what happens in "The Wig". But even those scenes where Su-Hyeon slowly begins her wig-induced transformation into a mega-bitch of sorts don't really work, and fail to whip up any real terror or fright.

There's never any scenes where she just loses it or does something extremely terrifying. Just some acting out, and snappy moments here and there. I've seen plenty of films where cursed artifacts, merchandise, or clothing really affects a persons behavior. And "The Wig" is not one of them. Like everything else in it's cinematic-repertoire...it halfly delivers on that part of it's plot arc, before pulling back into drama mode. It always seems throughout this film that it holds back for some reason, never fully going over the edge and giving the viewer what they want, which are some graphic and absolutely terrifying moments.

"The Wig" does finally live up to expectations in it's final act though, delivering a brutality-laced downer of an ending. It's certainly a finale which will stay with you for atleast half an hour. That's one positive thing that can be said about the film. But in the end, it just never does enough to fully satisfy those seeking real, genuine terror from their asian horror films.

Positives:Great finale, good idea for a story, good performances, interesting antagonist.

Negatives:Doesn't push the envelope enough, a severe lack of spine-tingling moments.

Overall:Not the best asian horror has to offer.





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