Office

Office is a 2015 South Korean horror mystery film directed by Hong Won-chan, which effectively serves up a chilling expression of the cutthroat corporatism that is eerily prevalent today. The film boasts an ensemble cast including the talented Ko Asung, Sung-Woo Bae, and Kim Eui-sung, whose intense performances set a gripping tone to the narrative.

At the crux of the story is Kim (Ko Asung), a newbie intern in a large corporate firm, who finds herself embroiled in an unnerving sequence of events when her co-worker, section-chief Mr. Kim (Bae Sung-Woo), commits a horrifying act. The film opens with Mr. Kim returning home one evening, only to murder his entire family in cold blood. After this shocking incident, he returns to his usual, mundane office environment, paving the way for the unfolding of a dark tale of intrigue and suspense.

Stressed from work and paranoid from the bloody incident, intern Kim finds herself navigating the unfeeling, clinical world of her office, which becomes increasingly surreal and nightmarish with each passing day. As the police investigate the violent incident, it comes to light that Mr. Kim hasn’t been seen since the murders. This sets the office environment on edge, their daily routine under intrusive police scrutiny styled with dark, atmospheric filters that make everyday tasks seem apprehensive.

Detective Choi (Park Sung-Woong) leads the investigation, interrogating the office employees one by one, trying to piece together the grisly puzzle. One of the narratives the film explores is the disgruntled office worker, which it does through the character of manager Mr. Oh (Kim Eui-sung). He is feared by all, his stern demeanor ruling over the office floor as he exercises his authority without hesitation. It's through characters like these that 'Office' critiques the high-pressure environment of the corporate world, where cut-throat competition, dehumanization, and exploitation wreak havoc on mental health.

The movie makes excellent use of its office setting to induce feelings of claustrophobia and unease, encapsulating the complex dynamics and politics within its confines. The characters are realistically flawed, each grappling with their unique anxieties, constantly wrestling with the fear of failure, job insecurity, and the toxic culture of their workplace. Director Hong Won-chan masterfully turns the office into an imposing character itself, a concrete jungle full of hidden threats and fear, echoing the horror of the outside world.

Ko Asung delivers an impressive performance as the naive intern Kim who finds herself caught up in a web of paranoia and horror. Sung-Woo Bae too brings in a commendable performance adding to the chilling premise of the film. The grim setting, complemented by deftly executed cinematography, immerses viewers in an unsettling world that’s a ruthless commentary on the dehumanizing realm of corporate life.

In terms of genre, Office seamlessly weaves elements of horror, mystery, and noir to create a cinematic experience that is far removed from the common tropes of Korean cinema. It skilfully integrates the psychological horror of a murder mystery with social commentary on the brutal, dehumanizing nature of modern corporate life, making it a genre-bending movie bound to pique viewers' interest.

The film premiered at Cannes in 2015 and was later chosen as the South Korean entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 88th Academy Awards. Though it didn't make the final shortlist, the accomplishment underscored the film's quality and its successful attempt at merging multiple genres to create a comprehensive narrative.

With its intricate symbolism and macabre humor, Office is more than a simple horror-thriller; it's thought-provoking parasocial commentary on the modern work environment, carefully highlighting the degradation of employee welfare in the relentless pursuit of productivity and profit.

To conclude, Office is a film that ingeniously combines the suspense of horror with the familiarity of daily office life, facing the viewer with an intricate design of psychological terror and unsettling eeriness. It's a movie that's bound to resonate with anyone who has ever felt overworked, underappreciated, or trapped in the quagmire of office politics. Its profound social commentary and exploration of the bleaker side of the corporate world set it apart as a unique and captivating cinema masterpiece.