Anyone who has attended Fantasia International Film Festivals knows they usually curate a great selection of foreign films. More specifically, the festival typically has a great lineup of Korean films. One such film is Noise, a frightening supernatural thriller written by Lee Je-hui and directed by Kim Soo-jin, both making their feature film debuts. Noise follows a hearing impaired young woman investigating her sister’s disappearance, leading to increasingly strange occurrences in the sister’s apartment building.

From the moment Noise begins, the film creates an eerie feeling to creep under audiences’ skin. These two sisters, Ju-young and Ju-hee, lost their parents as children. While they used to live together in the apartment, something made Ju-young move out. After Ju-hee mysteriously disappears, Ju-young returns to the apartment they once shared. She’s convinced no one else cares, not even the police, so Ju-young investigates on her own. Along the way, Ju-young is plagued by the same strange noises her sister experienced before disappearing while also having to contend with bizarre neighbors. The longer she’s there and the more she uncovers, the more dangerous her situation becomes. The filmmakers did a wonderful job of creating a layered story with multiple intertwined mysteries. It’s a very human story about grief and guilt, but with supernatural elements woven into the plot. On top of that, there is a theme of people today being quite unneighborly to each other. It makes for a compelling watch with a few good scares.

At times the story can feel overly complicated, but most of the various subplots are tied together nicely by the time the film ends. That being said, there certain elements left unsolved, and unfortunately it leaves a rather large hole in the plot. Most of the uncertainty surrounds the more ghostly aspects of the film, but there is also a rather large question mark during a scene that reveals what happened to Ju-hee. Despite this, the suspense is fantastic, the supernatural goes together nicely with the mysteries, and the various twists and turns will have viewers on the edge of their seats.

There are a number of great performances throughout Noise, many showcasing the darker side of human nature. Lee Sun-bin (Rampant, Mission Possible) stars as Ju-young. Ju-young is a complicated character, dealing with the grief of losing her parents and much of her hearing while also dealing with the guilt of not being there for her missing sister. Lee Sun-bin really conveys her character’s determination, willing to do whatever it takes to find her sister, even if she puts herself in harm’s way. Audiences will no doubt be disturbed by the character Joong-sim, played by Ryu Kyung-soo (The Call, Jung_E). He might not have the biggest role in the film, but he makes a lasting impact as the disgruntled apartment resident living beneath Ju-young. Joong-sim becomes increasingly crazed as the film progresses, making him just as frightening as the ghostly entities. Other great performances come from Han Soo-a (Such a Close Traitor), Kim Min-Seok (Defendant), and Jeon Ik-ryeong (Unlocked).

The film uses brilliant sound design and subtle visuals to create an edge-of-your-seat viewing experience. Noise, as the name implies, relies heavily on sound to add to the mystery and deliver some great tension. With Ju-young being hearing impaired and using a hearing aid, there are some really frightening moments related to what she can or cannot hear. The visuals only add to the scares. Some of those visuals are increasingly manic looking hand-written notes left on Ju-young’s door and some are subtle yet well done makeup effects to create eye-catching ghosts. Not to mention Noise has a great set. The apartment building is rundown, although some of the individual units are well maintained, with a labyrinthine feel to trap lost souls. Each and every sight and sound adds to the mystery, the suspense, and the terror.

Noise delivers plenty of twists and scares as the mystery unfolds, although not all questions are answered. Despite some of the lingering uncertainty, the film is still highly entertaining and easily draws audiences in. It’s a great feature film debut for both Lee Je-hui and Kim Soo-jin, ensuring horror fans will take notice of their work. The performances are wonderful, with a few of them leaving a lasting, unsettling impression. Some of the imagery is sure to stick with audiences long after the credits roll while the sound design delivers the terror. If you’re a fan of Korean horror films, or if you’re sick of your neighbor making such a racket, then you’ll definitely want to check out Noise.

OVERALL RATING: 6.5/10