The Haunting Echoes of R-Point

Alright, folks, let’s talk about “R-Point” – that South Korean horror flick that’s like a spooky fusion of “Platoon” and “The Ring”. Directed by Su-chang Kong, it’s got that eerie vibe that sticks to you like a cold November rain in Stockholm. You know the kind I mean, right? The one that seeps into your bones and refuses to let go.

I remember the first time R-Point hit my radar, back in those hazy days around 2004. I was having one of those long, lazy fika sessions at a small café in Gamla Stan, and a friend who had just returned from Seoul couldn’t stop yakking about this Korean horror gem. So naturally, I had to see what all the fuss was about.

Right from the start, there’s this uncomfortable tension, almost like when you realize your kladdkaka is overbaked – not terrifying per se, but deeply unsettling. The film follows a South Korean platoon sent to investigate a mysterious island during the Vietnam War, a setting as atmospheric as a foggy day on Skansen. There’s something about the blend of military life and supernatural spookiness that should clash but somehow here, meshes beautifully.

Now, I have to mention Kam Woo-sung, the lead, whose performance is as gripping as those tense moments during a Midsummer quiz competition. But let’s be honest, the plot does wander a bit. Sometimes I felt like I was lost in a forest without a map or even a trusty TomTom GPS.

But there’s a clever bit of commentary here – the futility of war and the ghosts it leaves behind. It’s both metaphorical and literal in “R-Point”, making you ponder a bit in that philosophical way we Swedes love.

For all its minor quirks and narrative mazes, it’s a film that lingers. Kind of like that lingering scent of surströmming – not entirely pleasant, but undeniably unforgettable. So, grab your favorite kanelbulle, dim the lights, and give “R-Point” a go. You might not sleep well afterwards, but hey, who needs sleep when you’ve got existential dread to keep you company?

Check the trailer below