Acacia

Directed by Ki-hyeong Park, the film "Acacia" is neither a horror film, nor is it for everyone. More importantly however, is that the films narrative moves at a very slow pace, with much ambiguity, and patience is required. Furthermore, much of the film moves along a pattern which may suggest that this is a horror film; and this is why I believe many people come away disappointed with this film. It is a psychological thriller. And once again, this film is not for everyone. It is a very ambiguous film [What Korean thriller/horror film isn't these days]. Therefore, I want to recommend this film with caution. Rent it first. The film begins with a couple who after ten years of marriage decide to adopt a child. The mother and father decide that the time has come for them to go to an adoption agency. It is at this agency that the mother becomes fascinated with the drawings of one child [a boy] in particular. Therefore, she decides along with her husband to adopt the boy.

The child is a withdrawn little boy who likes to draw Munch-like pictures [i.e. THE SCREAM]. The little boy Jin-sung (Moon Woo-bin) is well received in his new home. However, the grandmother [Mothers mom] believes that blood is more important and never treats the child as her own grandson. The grandfather [The fathers dad] treats him as one of the family. There is one thing that is strange about this little boy however, and that is his extreme fascination with an Acacia tree in the backyard. But there is a reason for his obsession of this tree, and in his drawing of trees. Moreover, there is more to the tree than the viewer is led to believe. This is where the ambiguity of the film comes in. Why is the child so fascinated with this tree?

Meanwhile, the mother learns that she is pregnant. After the baby is born, the little boy believes no one cares for him anymore. Therefore, he runs away. Or does he? Is he just hiding in the back yard? Maybe the house? Or is there more to the films narrative than just a runaway child? This is where the film comes at the viewer in a very strange manner. Terrible events begins to occur. Why? What is different? It is when the child disappears that the film begins to give off an almost surreal element in many scenes. Are what we viewing real? Is this a ghost story? Or is it something else? The films climax answers ALL the questions you may be wondering about. The cinematography of the film is outstanding. "Acacia" has many twists to it, and the viewer is never let in on it until near the end. Moreover, the film moves at a very slow pace. Therefore, patience is required. The ending I must write is very strange. And once again, I recommend the film with caution. It will not appeal to many viewers. However, if you stay with the film and give it half a chance you may be pleasantly surprised. Recommended with caution. Rent it first. [Stars: 3.5]

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A middle-aged couple, distraught over the fact that theirs is a ''childless'' household (made even more tragically ironic when given the fact that the husband's profession is that of an Obstetrician), decides to side-step their fertility difficulties by looking into the adoption alternative.

At the agency the wife becomes fascinated with the drawing talents of a 6-year-old boy, and upon meeting the quiet & somewhat withdrawn boy in person becomes enamored with him as well.

He is well received into his new home, which consists of the husband & wife couple and the husband's father, but it takes some time before Jin-sung can adapt enough to truly feel part of the ''family.''

But not everyone in this family is pleased with this arrangement, as the wife's mother makes comments to the affect that Jin-sung is not ''blood'' and as such could therefore never "truly" be the couple's son -- all within earshot of the little boy, no less! Things later take another nosedive as the couple receives the surprising news that they are finally to give birth to a child of their own.

Before long, Jin-sung is feeling left out and alone; his only solace being in the form of a sickly near-dead acacia tree in their yard and a creepy little girl from the house next door who becomes his companion & playmate.

The situation intensifies as Jin-sung runs out of the house one rainy night and is never seen or heard from again, and the family he was once a part of soon begins to disintegrate and implode from within.

A bit miscategorized as part of the "A-Horror" genre, "ACACIA," directed by Park Ki-hyung, who also directed the hugely successful "YEOGO GOEDAM" ("GIRLS' SCHOOL GHOST STORY" - aka "Whispering Corridors"), is really more of a psychological tragedy drama with occasional pepperings of the metaphysical to lend it all an added sense of eeriness -- think another Korean psycho-thriller, "JANGHWA, HONGRYON" ("ROSE, LOTUS" - aka "A Tale of Two Sisters").

Though there's no doubt that anyone with an I.Q. above zero will be able to know where the story is leading; its the process of getting to that resolution that carries us along and keeps us interested. And just like "JANGHWA, HONGRYON," be prepared to be thrown around for several unpredictable loops before the entire mystery has been solved.

For those who'd like to take a break from all of the typical "A-Horror" cliches which have become popular of late, you'll find this particular (semi-)"ghost story" a very refreshing offering. Look for 'closure' ... just don't look for a 'happy ending.'

I came across this movie while working at blockbuster. At that time I usually went for Asian Horror movies that I've actually heard about. But I made a jump at this one. Mostly because I thought the cover box was kind of cool. From the director and writer of the critically acclaimed Whispering Corridors, Ki-Hyung Park. Acacia tells the story of a young couple that adopts a young boy after figuring out they are unable to have a child of their own. The young boy seems to have an obsession with trees, mainly the Acacia in their backyard. The woman's mother deems the boy as evil while his father's father tries to spend time with the child. Just when it seems the boy is getting comfortable in his surroundings, the couple finds out that they are pregnant. After the child is born, the boy becomes more agitated and goes back to being by himself. One night after a horrible fight the boy runs away. They don't call the police figuring that the boy might come back. Soon after that strange things begin to happen and the Acacia tree has suddenly sprung back to life.

I felt that this film was very overlooked, probably from lack of information about it. The film does starts off a bit slow and seemingly more dramatic. But soon takes a turn into a ghost story, then to more of a psychological horror. It starts start off very comfortable where you really do feel for the family then you really start to feel for the young boy, he has an obsession with trees because after his mother passed away he was told that she became a tree. He then identifies that the Acacia in the backyard must be his mother. Another review I read made a very good point about a theme of childbearing through out the movie. One scene to mention is when the boy is sleeping in a room covered in red yarn, which could be a symbol of the womb and of the mother accepting the child as her own. The movie did remind me a lot of A tale of two sisters, the atmospheres were very much alike. The movie turns into a horror story when the father starts to see crazy images of deformed children haunt his dreams.

You wonder does the family feel any guilt for what has happened? Is something else going on that they are not telling us? The acting in this film was fantastic. You can't really believe how many great child actors there are out there. But I guess there are many in the Asian countries. But like I mentioned before you really feel for the characters and that was definitely because of the acting. The atmosphere was very haunting as well. It's actually kind of a beautiful movie to watch. If you see this at your video store pick it up. If you are a fan of A Tale of two sisters or Dark Water, then you will enjoy this movie.