Into the Mirror

Into the Mirror

Country:South Korea

Director:Kim Seong-ho

Year: 
2003

Duration: 
112

Summary:

A woman is found dead in the bathroom of Dreampia, a huge department store, her throat slashed. The death is put down to suicide, there being no evidence of anyone else having been present. The store, initially closed because of a terrible fire a year previously, automatically becomes the subject of supernatural speculation - all before the grand re-opening. All the negative press surrounding the mall causes the owners much worry, in addition to the families of the fire victims demanding compensation – but still not enough to keep the store from reopening.

Along with the police force, the store's own security is put on alert for any suspicious activity. Here we meet Yeong-Min (Yu Ji-Tae, last seen hamming it up as the bad guy in Oldboy), a security guard with a past. Previously a cop, he quit after his previously sharp shooting skills ended up failing him in a hostage situation, his hot-headedness resulting in his partner getting killed. Quitting the force, the only job he's willing to find is as Chief of Security at Dreampia – but only because his uncle, who runs the store, basically created the post for him. It doesn't help Yeong-Min that the cop in charge of the investigations was a former colleague of his, Hyeon-su who now has nothing but pity and contempt for Yeong-Min.

The suicide hypothesis vanishes though as soon as there's another strange death / apparent suicide, this time in a lift. There are enough questions about these two deaths now for a full investigation to be launched, although the police want Yeong-Min to stay out of it. He can't though, much to the annoyance of Hyeon-su, and regularly treads on their toes trying to work out what's going on. Of course, by now rumours are flying around that the store is haunted… not helped by yet another mysterious death in Dreampia's underground car park, again with no obvious suspect. Of course, while the characters in the movie have no clue what's going on, the the apparition of a strange woman appears regularly in strange corners, out of view of everyone but the viewer…