5 Korean Films You Need To See Before ‘All Of Us Are Dead’

Oldboy (2003)
Not to be confused with Spike Lee’s 2013 American remake, Park Chan-wook’s original Oldboy from 2003 is a certified stomach-wrencher. Main character Oh-Dae Su (played by Choi Mink-ski) has spent the past 15 years imprisoned in a hotel room for reasons he’s unaware of, spending his time contemplating his life decisions and awaiting his release. This slow build leads to Oh being released from prison, and immediately seeking out the individuals that put him there. We won’t spoil the ending for you, but we will say the twist at the ending is one of the very best we’ve seen across the span of global cinematography – and there’s an amazing single-take fight scene that’s sure to get your heart pumping as well. 

Memories of Murder (2003)
Bong Joon-ho was almost two decades away from becoming a global superstar when he created Memories of Murder, his second feature-length film, in 2003. However, the talent and eye for biting societal drama that would make him famous were on full display. The film is based on the true story of inept small town police detectives who fumbled the case of South Korea’s first recorded serial killer between 1986 and 1991. Song Kang-ho stars as Park Doo-man, the detective in charge of the case, and Kim-Sang-kyung plays Seo Tae, a detective from Seoul who’s arrived in Park’s province to provide assistance.  It’s gritty and realistic, and – just like the case it’s inspired by – doesn’t have a Hollywood ending.

The Wailing (2016)
When it comes to horror and thrillers, South Korean cinema is mostly known for its zombie flicks (a prime example of which you’ll see below) but The Wailing is centered around a frightening supernatural element. Directed by Na Hong-Jin, it tells the tale of a small village that’s plagued by a wave of anger and brutality after a suspicious stranger pays a visit. Kwak Do-won plays Jong-goo, a police detective who’s trying to unravel the mystery, and Hwang Jung-min steps up as Il-gwang, a shaman who the village hires for protection. The film’s most interesting piece is its abrupt switch: it starts out as a classic tale of small town villagers being wary of a newcomer, then goes full supernatural with demons, witches and more. Be ready for a good scare!

Train to Busan (2016)
Often held aloft as the finest film in the ultra-popular South Korean zombie genre, Train to Busan spotlights the plight of a father who’s desperately trying to protect his daughter on a train to Busan that’s – you guessed it – hopelessly overrun by zombies. The only thing outnumbering the hungry zombies are the plot’s twists and turns, which unfold in rapid succession and, along with the film’s biting social commentary, keeps you on your toes throughout the entirety of the film. It was well-received by both fans and critics, and currently holds a 94 percent ‘Fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Be sure to catch its animated prequel Seoul Station and the 2020 sequel Peninsula for even more zombie lore.

Parasite (2019)
Parasite is the most well-known South Korean film in the world, and, quite arguably, the very best. A black comedy that’s extremely dark yet gut-bustingly funny at times, it heralded Bong Joon-ho’s arrival to superstardom when it became the first non-English film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2019, along with three other awards: Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best International Feature Film. Through the course of Parasite, the class divide in South Korea is highlighted by the differences between the poor yet tight-knit Kim family and the wealthy-yet-distant Park family, who they work for. Parasite is extremely intricate and features an ending that’ll have you with your hands on your head in disbelief – but even hinting at what happens would spoil the surprise, so we’ll leave it to you to see for yourself if you haven’t already.