Reviewed by Adrian Sim

Director: Park Ki-hyung
Writing Credits: Park Ki-hyung
Cast: Shim Hye-jin, Kim Jin-geun, Mun Oh-bin, Jeong Na-yoon
Genre: Horror
Country: South Korea
Language: KoreanBR>Year Released: 2003

I didn't particularly like Park Ki-hyung's Whispering Corridors. However, Acacia's premise looked interesting and I decided to give it a try. Boy, was I pleasantly surprised.

I like Acacia very very much although there were some minor gripes here and there like one particularly cheesy death scene. In fact, this has to be one of the best Asian horror I've seen since The Ring. Sinny might not like to hear this but A Tale of Two Sisters does not even deserve to stand head and shoulders with this. A Tale of Two Sisters delivered its simple but ultimately pointless plot in a complex contrived manner that ended it raising more questions than it could handle. It's a film where the sum is not more than its parts.

In contrast, Acacia is less ambitious and more focused. Hence, its cumulated devastation is more palpable. It also moved me immensely. I consider this a rare feat for a HORROR film.

I like it also because it kept me guessing and outsmarted me with its satisfying but disturbing final revelation.

I have not watched other recent Korean horror like Wishing Stairs and The Uninvited but I believe Acacia to be the best of the crop. Be prepared to be psychologically disturbed by one of the best suspense/horror films in recent times. This is a film that will remain in my mind for a very long time!