Salmokji: Masterpiece Korean Horror Film

The horror film 'Salmokji,' scheduled for release in April, has revealed its visually striking production behind-the-scenes. The movie deals with the horror experienced by a film crew who head to a reservoir for reshoots after an unidentified entity is captured on road view.

Director Lee Sang-min set the main stage of the film in a cluster of large willow trees that resemble human heads and create a stark contrast between day and night. To leverage the spatial characteristics of the reservoir, the film maximized unease by utilizing reflections on the water's surface, figures beyond the ripples, and sounds that cannot be heard from underwater.

Art Director Ko Seung-hyo explained, "The paradoxical sense of isolation within a vast space is the core of the horror in 'Salmokji.'" He heightened the work's eerie atmosphere by directing underwater aquatic plants that grew like hair and by using actual ghost hunting equipment such as ghost boxes and motion detectors.

Cinematographer Kim Seong-an created unease by personally operating the camera during filming and expressed horror through subtle camera movements even when characters were still. He stated that he focused on "maintaining rhythm and breath so the audience remains tense, and intensely portraying the fear of a confined space through the characters."

Actress Kim Hye-yoon takes on the role of Soo-in, a PD at Onroad Media, in 'Salmokji,' marking her first foray into the horror genre. She said, "I was drawn to the novelty of the water ghost theme," and expressed enjoyment of the tension and release found in the horror genre, along with the script's engaging story.