A Touch of Unseen

A Touch of Unseen is a distinctive and ambitious work of South Korean cinema that blends horror, psychological thriller, and a hint of noir elements into a visually stunning cinematic experience. This unique and gripping story explores themes of trauma and mental struggle through a narrative that is as beautiful as it is haunting.

The film, directed by Lee Hyunchul, opens with our twin protagonists, Soo-yeon and Ji-seon, relocating from their small town to the bustling capital of Seoul, where they hope to overcome their traumatic past and start anew in the modern and fast-paced city life. Soo-yeon, the older of the two, is a passionate photographer who hopes to find her inspiration and purpose by capturing the city's beauty, while her sister Ji-seon is a carefree spirit at heart, but prone to a sense of deep unease without apparent reason.

But as life in the metropolis begins to unfold, something seems off to Soo-yeon. A strange presence begins to reveal itself around them, and her initial excitement about the city becomes tainted with fear and uneasiness. Things turn more surreal when she finds her photographs reveal spectral figures that are invisible to the naked eye. Simultaneously, Ji-seon’s anxieties intensify, and she starts to have repeated nightmares and inexplicable experiences.

The film is beautifully shot, showcasing the bright city lights of Seoul and the more haunting aspects of the urban landscape in equal measure. The high-quality cinematography adds an extra layer to the narrative, emphasizing and reflecting the twins' emotional state at different points throughout the film.

A Touch of Unseen portrays horror not merely through jump scares or shocks, but rather through a psychological exploitation that leads to unbearable tension. There's a sinister sensation of something lurking just beneath the surface, unseen yet always felt. It's this underlying feeling of dread and constant unease that forms the crux of the movie's horror elements.

Despite its unsettling premise, the movie deals sensitively with themes of trauma, mental health, and the fragility of the human mind. Soo-yeon and Ji-seon, each in their way, struggle to come to terms with their haunted past while attempting to deal with the invisible forces that seem to be tormenting them. The characters are remarkably well-rounded and feel real, primarily due to the exceptional performance of debut actresses Kim Kyung-mi and Lee Eun-joo.

What is seemingly remarkable about 'A Touch of Unseen' is how it navigates human experiences and the supernatural world, hinting at a possible metaphorical interpretation of its occurrences. The film often blurs the line between reality and unreality, making you question what pertains to the realm of the supernatural and what could be a manifestation of the character's mental struggles, a unique aspect that sets it apart from other horror films.

In conclusion, A Touch of Unseen pulls you into a thought-provoking and suspenseful narrative rich with psychological complexities. It instills fear by tapping into the anxieties of its characters, rather than relying on typical horror tropes—an approach that makes it more unnerving and lingering. Delving into ghostly encounters and haunting pasts while effectively drawing attention to the mental health issues caused by trauma, this film is a gripping and unique experience in contemporary horror cinema. So, if you are a fan of suspense, psychological thrillies, and horror combined into one unique cinematic experience, 'A Touch of Unseen' is a movie that you should absolutely not miss.