A Tale of Two Sisters: Difference between revisions

''A Tale of Two Sisters'' (aka ''Janghwa, Hongryeon'', literally 'Rose Flower, Red Lotus') is a 2003 South Korean psychological horror film by Kim Ji-woon. It is both the highest-grossing Korean horror film and the first to be screened in American theatres.

 

 

The film centers around two teenage sisters, the older Su-mi and the younger Su-yeon, returning to their father Moo-hyeon's house after a stay in a mental institution following the death of their mother. They frequently clash with their new stepmother (formerly their mother's nurse), Eun-ju, who behaves in an incredibly difficult manner around them (and becomes increasingly cruel over the course of the film). Coinciding with their return home, however, are several eerie and frightening events (doors opening by themselves, bizarre apparitions, strange sounds, and terrifying nightmares, amongst other things), and it quickly becomes uncertain if these events are real, a product of the girls' disturbed mental states, or the cruel mind games played by Eun-ju. Or is it something else entirely?

** There are also several in Su-yeon's room.

* [[Demonic Possession]]: May or may not happen, briefly, during {{spoiler|the dinner scene.}}

* [[Downer Ending]]

* [[Driven to Suicide]]: {{spoiler|The girls' mother}}... although some viewers may disagree. Also, in the alternate ending, {{spoiler|Su-mi}}.

* [[Foreign Remake]]: ''The Uninvited''.

* [[Foreshadowing]]: {{spoiler|In the very first scene, Su-mi's psychiatrist asks her who she thinks she is - a clue toward's Su-mi's multiple personalities.}}

** The appearance of {{spoiler|the girl in the green dress (theorised by some to be Su-yeon, and is most likely the girl under the sink, due to the fact that they seem to be wearing the same dress)}} during the "girl under the sink" scene could be considered this, as she initially appears behind Eun-ju for a few seconds before the shot changes.

* [[Ghostly Chill]]: Used to great effect {{spoiler|when Eun-ju enters Su-yeon's old room towards the end of the film}}.

** ''The Uninvited'' had a suitably freaky one as well {{spoiler|and it's confirmed to ''be'' the girls' mother.}}

* [[Supernatural Proof Father]]

* [[Through the Eyes of Madness]]

* {{spoiler|[[Tomato Surprise]]}}

* [[Tranquil Fury]]: Su-mi, until you push her too far.