Leading Korean film sales agent Finecut has picked up international distribution rights to “Noise,” a contemporary horror film by first time director Kim Soo-jin. The film will be launched next month a the European film Market in Berlin.
The story follows a woman with a hearing impediment who is haunted by sounds linking to her sister’s disappearance and the presence of a malevolent spirit. It leads to a dark secret and the revelation of a mysterious entity.
The film delves into the unsettling issue disturbing sounds with unknown origin in urban environments, known in Korean as “floor noise.” According to a recent survey conducted by the Korean Environment Corporation, the number of complaints related to floor noise has doubled in the past five years. Floor noises have led to numerous legal disputes and even cases of murder. The film will portray the story of residents in an apartment complex who are gradually driven to madness by sounds that seem to come from nowhere.
Kim is best known for short film “The Line” which was presented at the Cinefondation of the 66th Cannes festival.
In the lead role as the woman with a hearing aid is Lee Sun-bin, whose previous credits include Coupang Play’s “Boyhood,” TV’s “Work Now, Drink Later” and “Mission: Possible.”
Other cast includes: Kim Min-seok (“Body Parts,” “Shark: The Beginning), portraying the missing sister’s boyfriend; Ryu Kyung-soo (Netflix’s “The Bequeathed,” “Itaewon Class” and “Tale of the Nine-Tailed”) appears as the downstairs neighbor who complains about the noise and threatens the protagonist.
The film, currently in post-production, is by presented by KC Ventures and produced by Studio Finecut (“Christmas Carol,” Netflix series “See You in My 19th Life”).
Finecut has been a regular EFM and Berlin Festival participant, having represented multiple pictures by indie auteur Hong Sang-soo, whose titles appeared in Berlin three years in a row.
