Karaoke Crazies (2016)

No summon can fairly describe Kim Sang-chan’s second film, which is built around one of Korea’s favorite hobbies: karaoke. A film with a very unlikely content, inexplicable, broken, and ghostly characters who are yet luminous. Kim Sang-chan takes the necessary time to develop them and show us how they spend their days and nights. Through an atmospheric and estranged setting, the film finds a tone that can range from comedy straight to darkness. The dramatic use of alcohol reminds us of Hong Sang-soo’s films: characters get loose –thanks to soju– and confess, and yet remain as strange and mysterious creatures. Welcome to Sung-wook’s unique karaoke.