'Wall to Wall' to tackle horrors of inter-floor noise
Actor Kang Ha-neul in a scene from Netflix movie “Wall to Wall” / Courtesy of Netflix
Director Kim Tae-joon, who made his debut with the Netflix movie "Unlocked" (2023), is back with his second feature film, "Wall to Wall,” a horror-thriller that sheds light on a relatable conflict in Korean society — inter-floor noise.
The film's Korean title, “84 Square Meters,” directly references the most popular apartment size in Korea. Director Kim chose this setting to ground the story in a reality many Koreans experience.
"Many people are suffering from inter-floor noise," Kim said during a press conference at a hotel in Seoul, Monday.
"Eighty percent of Korea's housing is multi-family housing and more than 80 percent of that is apartments. In a way, we can say around 80 percent of our population is in an environment where they could experience this issue."
Kim felt that the topic of inter-floor noise was both relevant and highly relatable.
"I thought it would be interesting to seriously explore the various perspectives and underlying stories of inter-floor noise," he said.
Actors Kang Ha-neul, left, and Yeom Hye-ran in a scene from Netflix movie “Wall to Wall” / Courtesy of Netflix
The film features a stellar cast, with lead actor Kang Ha-neul taking on the role of Woo-seong, a young man who has managed to buy his own apartment by "saving every penny." Yeom Hye-ran portrays Eun-hwa, the resident representative who lives in the penthouse, while Seo Hyun-woo plays Jin-ho, Woo-seong's upstairs neighbor.
Kang said that while reading the screenplay, he could vividly picture the movie in his head.
"I felt that this film was written more like a storyboard for the director to use," Kang said. "I could feel the director's style."
The actor also expressed a sense of pity for his character.
"He's a young man who works so hard, using his retirement savings, studio apartment deposit and even his mother's land to buy an apartment," he explained. "But because of the inter-floor noise, he gradually becomes frail. I talked a lot with the director about how he becomes more and more sensitive and could reach an extreme point due to the noise."
Yeom, who recently moved audiences to tears with her portrayal of a selfless woman diver in this year’s Netflix's hit series “When Life Gives You Tangerines,” shows a cold and inhuman side in this film.
"Eun-hwa is a type of power-hungry character you don't often see," she said. "She's a former prosecutor who knows how to evade the law. She's a person who understands how capitalism and law work and has accumulated wealth."
Actors Kang Ha-neul, right, and Seo Hyun-woo in a scene from Netflix movie “Wall to Wall” / Courtesy of Netflix
Seo shared that he felt a strong connection to the screenplay as he was experiencing inter-floor noise issues himself when he received it.
"The inter-floor noise problem is difficult not only for the victims who have to endure the noise but also for those who unintentionally create it," he said. "The screenplay resonated with me in many ways. I was interested in this movie from the start and was drawn to this energetic role that I hadn't played before."
Director Kim expressed his satisfaction with the casting. He explained that although the character of Woo-seong, who mirrors the desires of today's youth, could have been a dark figure, Kang’s bright image made the character both relatable and sympathetic.
The director also said he chose Yeom to show a different side of herself from the compassionate characters she has played in the past, and he trusted Seo to deliver a multi-layered performance.
The filmmaker’s return to the thriller genre, with a focus on events that can happen in everyday life, stems from a deep affection for the genre.
"I want to continue making thriller films," he said. "I want to create a new kind of thriller by mixing it with other genres like 'romance thriller' or 'sci-fi thriller,' to infuse thrillers with diverse colors."
“Wall to Wall” will be released on Friday.