A thai horror film, The Medium, was co-written and produced by Na Hong-jin, known for his film The Wailing.

It tells the story of a young woman named 'Ming' who becomes possessed by a multitude of evil spirits, seeking revenge for crimes committed by their ancestors. However, after its release, the film was met with negative reviews, criticizing its excessive violence and overall unpleasantness. I also saw the film in theaters after its release, and due to its heavy use of handheld shots, it gave me a bad headache, and I ultimately had to leave mid-way through, a first for me.

However, if I had to pick the most powerful scene in the whole film, it would be the scene where 'Ming' talks about the cameraman and the shaman in the office.

The scene takes place in a bright office, dominated by white walls and accented by a pink notice board. It is illuminated by sunlight, and the cheerful, innocent demeanor of the young woman is a stark contrast to the more sinister scenes that follow. This scene, therefore, serves to accentuate the grotesque and brutal acts of 'Ming' as the film progresses.

This scene also lays the foundation for recognizing the person sitting before the camera as someone's precious daughter and family member. The gruesome events that unfold throughout the film are driven by 'Ming'. Throughout these events, she is held down by her relatives and family. The multitude of evil spirits that have taken over 'Ming' are a consequence of her ancestors' misdeeds.

It reminds me of breaching experiments.

In the field of social psychology, breaching experiments are designed to highlight the context of social interactions by deliberately violating established social norms and conventions.

Imagine waiting in line at a coffee shop to order your coffee. If someone cuts in front of you and orders their coffee from the barista, we immediately become aware of the social norms that are ingrained in our lives. It is through this awareness that we determine how to react. Moreover, we realize that we are social beings, deeply influenced by the world we live in.

The truth is the heavy weight of individual existence.

The Medium remains a horror film for me, but the horror does not stem from the situation created by the ghosts. Rather, it is a film that served as a reminder that the individuals we encounter are tied to a vast network of unseen family members who have shaped them.

Conclusion: It made me wonder if the continuation of our daily routines, from waking up to going to sleep, is something that should be taken for granted, or if it should inspire a greater sense of responsibility towards our present selves.