The Tenants - Fantasia Canadian Premiere Review
Director: Eun-Kyoung Yoon
Starring: Heo Dong-won, Dea-geon Kim, So-hyun Park
Written by: Eun-Kyoung Yoon
Produced by: Monsik Ahn
Cinematography by: Eun-Kyoung Yoon
Original Score by: Park Ki-Heon
Synopsis:
In a dystopian South Korean city, a soon-to-be-evicted tenant decides to complicate the process by renting his toilet out to an eccentric couple, but their strange behaviours soon become unbearable.
Thoughts:
In cinema, there are many horrors that would be completely terrifying if they were real. Being chased through the woods by Jason? Pretty bad, but I can avoid Crystal Lake. Being eaten by Pennywise? Just don’t talk to scary clowns in the sewer. But there’s one true horror in life that’s unavoidable...joining the property market! It’s not an obviously terrifying subject, but unfortunately one of the things every adult must face. When I moved out from my parents into my own first home, I moved in with a complete stranger. At the time, and at a dumb age, I thought this was fine (and it was, my housemate Cameron was a lovely guy) but it could have easily gone the other way and been a nightmare scenario. Now imagine, you decide to share a flat with a random couple who want to just sleep in the bathroom and a girl who sleeps in the attic and watches you while you sleep. Not ideal, right? Well that’s the main premise of 'The Tenants' and let me tell you, it gets odd very quickly...
Director Yoon Eun-Kyoung is able to create a captivating atmosphere from the very first few minutes of the film. I was instantly invested in the main characters story thanks to the excellent acting by the main star Heo Dong-Won and the beautiful cinematography. The film was shot in colour but Eun-Kyoung decided to present the film in black and white and it’s a decision that really pays off. The film is very Kafkaesque and pulls a lot of influence from David Lynch, especially from 'Eraserhead' and 'Mulholland Drive'.
I wouldn't exactly describe the film as horror, but it’s definitely surreal at times. The cramped, claustrophobic nature of filming in a small apartment is perfectly captured; showing how the main character is trapped in a shoebox living space, both literally and metaphorically.
One of the underlining aspects of the film that I enjoyed was the feeling of not being able to escape your 9-5 job. The main character works a 9-5 office job and can barely afford his rent, then when he’s promised guaranteed housing if he gets a promotion, he works underpaid over-time and fucks over his work mates, just so he has somewhere to sleep. It's very "on the nose" commentary about the working conditions in a place like Seoul, where the movie is based, but it’s a universal feeling we can all unfortunately relate to. The film features an excellent scene that depicts sleep paralysis that is absolutely horrifying. The scene is influenced by J-horror, but it is very unique and unlike anything I’ve seen before.
'The Tenants' almost feels like a hidden gem what would gain an audience on any of the popular streamers. If you’re a fan of other Korean film makers such as Park Chan-Wook or Bong Joon-Ho, this will definitely be up your alley.
Verdict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Adam Neeson
'The Tenants' received its Canadian Premiere at Fantasia '24 on July 29th
Comentarios