South Korean scares as Vancouver Asian Film Festival opens Halloween night with The Closet
Consider it the latest contender from a country that’s a legit force in horror movies

The Vancouver Asian Film Festival streams The Closet on October 31 at 7 pm.
CREEPY CHILDREN, check. Ghosts, check. An exorcist, check. The Vancouver Asian Film Festival has all the ingredients for the perfect film to open its event on Halloween night.
Kicking off the fest that runs till November 9 is South Korea’s The Closet, by up-and-coming director Kim Kwang-Bin.
After his wife’s death, architect Sang-won (Ha Jung-woo) and his daughter Ina (Heo Yool) move into a new home out in the country to try to heal. But his child starts acting stranger and stranger until… Well, let’s just say there might be a reason kids are afraid of what’s lurking in their closet when they’re trying to go to sleep.
Note that it’s only $10 for you to throw a stay-at-home Halloween viewing party of The Closet with your bubble besties; a pass for all of VAFF’s offerings is $50.
Note that South Korea has emerged as a major force in Asian horror movies, regularly scaring the crap out of people with stylish, revenge-fuelled fare like Thirst, The Wailing, and Train to Busan. More than enough, in fact, to keep a Halloween viewing party going all night long and into the wee hours.
Related Articles
Through intensely personal perspectives and sharp detail, audacious new features and short films throw light on culture-spanning issues
French videographer and activist Vincent Verzat reconnects with biodiversity in Visions Ouest presentation
Documentary at the Vancouver Queer Film Festival highlights peer-led groups working to overcome a long history of stigma and isolation by creating connection to the broader queer community
With sharp visions of life in Mexico, Venezuela, and early-’70s Quebec, the event continues to reveal a deeply interconnected world where history is ever-present
Strong performances in the story of a French bookstore owner who forms bonds with a father and child make Visions Ouest’s final summer installment a must-see
Through its mix of Indigenous artists, musicians, and technicians, the Vancouver Latin American Film Festival feature puts the common good at the centre
Ido Fluk’s ode to Keith Jarrett concert Köln 75 closes the fest, while VIFF Live brings in Mad Professor, claire rousay, and more
The Polygon Gallery’s annual outdoor film series takes place on Cates Deck
Visions Ouest screens earthy charmer set in Jura agricultural region
In documenting years of official disapproval and meddling, independent Cuban filmmakers Miguel Coyula and Lynn Cruz set out to trouble viewers of all political stripes