The Wailing

A Japanese man relocates to a quaint village in the South Korean mountains, seeking solitude in his isolated house. His presence in the community soon becomes a point of intrigue and unease for the villagers.

A strange and terrifying illness begins to sweep through the village, causing villagers to develop alarming rashes. This unsettling affliction escalates into violent outbursts and ultimately leads to their tragic deaths.

Police officer Jong-goo dives into the chaos, determined to uncover the origins of the mysterious illness. His investigation leads him to an enigmatic young woman named Moo-myeong, who hints at the dark truth surrounding the Japanese man.

A local hunter recounts a chilling sighting of the almost naked stranger consuming a deer while displaying unnaturally glowing red eyes. This revelation disturbs Jong-goo, igniting his fears and suspicions about the stranger.

Jong-goo teams up with another officer and a Japanese-speaking deacon to confront the stranger. They explore his home and are horrified to discover disturbing images of the infected villagers alongside their personal belongings.

During their investigation, the stranger's guard dog becomes aggressive, attacking both the deacon and Jong-goo. The appearance of the stranger calms the enraged dog, prompting Jong-goo and his companions to retreat in fear.

Jong-goo discovers a shoe belonging to his daughter, Hyo-jin, leading to an escalation of his fears. Soon afterward, she falls victim to the same illness plaguing the villagers, deepening his sense of dread.

In desperation, Jong-goo's mother-in-law consults a shaman named Il-gwang to save Hyo-jin. While the shaman performs an exorcism ritual, the stranger simultaneously conducts his own ominous ceremony nearby.

As Hyo-jin's condition deteriorates during the shaman's ritual, Jong-goo chooses to abandon the exorcism and rush her to the hospital for immediate care. His conflicting emotions weigh heavily as he fights to save his daughter.

Believing the Japanese stranger is the source of the illness, Jong-goo and his friends set out to eliminate the perceived threat. Their hunt takes a violent turn when they are ambushed by an infected villager.

In a tense encounter, Jong-goo and his friends hit the stranger with their vehicle during their pursuit. They believe they have finally vanquished the source of their misfortunes as they dispose of what they think is his body.

Jong-goo returns home to find Hyo-jin's condition has improved, but Il-gwang soon raises concerns that they may have killed the wrong person during their desperate act. This revelation casts a shadow of doubt over their actions.

Moo-myeong confronts Jong-goo outside his home, urging him to trust her intentions. She claims to have devised a trap for the true demon, warning him that the trap would fail if he returns home while simultaneously expressing her treachery.

The deacon stumbles upon the Japanese stranger alive in a cave, witnessing a horrifying transformation into a demon after being photographed. This shocking discovery heightens the tension surrounding the true nature of the illness plaguing the village.

As Jong-goo approaches death, he reflects on happier memories with Hyo-jin, promising to protect her. However, he is horrified to discover the depth of their tragedy, culminating in a devastating revelation of a family member's violent act.