A Tale of Two Sisters

2003 Horror

This supernatural horror film from Kim Jee-woon is inspired by the ancient Korean folktale "Jangha and Hongryun." Set in an isolated lakeside house, it begins with two young girls, Su-mi (Im Su-jung) and Su-yeon (Mun Geun-yeong), returning home after a period of hospitalization following the death of their mother. In the meantime, their father Mu-Hyun (Kim Gab-su) has married Eun-joo (Yeom Jeong-ah), whom the girls obviously despise. Strange, violent visions begin to disturb Su-mi and she becomes convinced that Eun-joo is keeping a dark secret from the family. The American remake rights to A Tale of Two Sisters were sold to Dreamworks SKG in 2003.

Director: Ji-woon Kim

Starring: Kab-su Kim, Jeong-a Yeom, Geun-young Moon, Soo-Jung Lim

 38 Reviews  8 Awards

Reviews

  • A triumph of stylish, darkly absurdist horror that even manages to strike a chord of Shakespearean tragedy - and evokes a sense of wonder anew at all the terrible things people do to themselves and each other.

    Kevin Thomas - Los Angeles Times

    29 November 2012

  • Bloody good.

    Ruthe Stein - The San Francisco Chronicle

    29 November 2012

  • It's a stunningly creepy specimen of Asian horror.

    Allison Benedikt - The Chicago Tribune

    29 November 2012

  • Quite restrained for what's basically a horror movie, and very well acted.

    David Sterritt - Christian Science Monitor

    29 November 2012

  • A Tale of Two Sisters reminds that few things are as terrifying as our own imaginations.

    - The Boston Globe

    29 November 2012

Awards

  • Best New Actress

    Blue Dragon Awards (2003)

  • Jung-ah Yum

    Brussels International Festival of Fantasy Film (2004)

  • Best Supporting Actress

    Chlotrudis Awards (2006)

     

  • Jee-woon Kim

    Fant-Asia Film Festival (2004)

  • Best Actress

    Fantasporto (2004)

Lists

No lists

©2013 Movie Monitor