Extra Noir Presents: Mulgwishin (An Imaginary Soundtrack)

Extra Noir Podcast

An imaginary soundtrack for the greatest 60s Korean horror film never made: Mulgwishin. The plot: Ko Tae-Hyun is a farm boy with big city dreams. Despite an idyllic upbringing on the isle of Jeju, he leaves his family and beloved rural life behind at the age of 18, chasing fortune in Seoul. He soon learns that money doesn't come easy in the capital, however, and begins running small errands for a local gang to make ends meet. The head of the crime family, Mr. Kim, takes notice of Tae-Hyun's talent and dedication, and Tae-Hyun quickly ascends the ranks, fetching good money and the suits, girls and lifestyle that come with it. One girl is particularly compelling to Tae-Hyun: Mr. Kim's daughter, Su-Jin. Despite initial misgivings, Mr. Kim's fondness for Tae-Hyun allows him to see past the humble origins of his protégé, and soon he calls Tae-Hyun his son-in-law. The marriage between Tae-Hyun and Su-Jin starts blissfully, except for one thing: Tae-Hyun's frequent nightmares. After a particularly vivid one, he confesses to Su-Jin that he lives in constant fear of the "mulgwishin", or water ghost. He claims that he was haunted throughout his childhood in Jeju by visions of a drowned woman, returning to shore to seek revenge on those responsible for her death at sea. Su-Jin's comfort is a blessing for Tae-Hyun, but it's not enough to prevent him from straying into the arms of other women. With his status in the Kim dynasty and all the money that comes with it, Tae-Hyun becomes an unintentional playboy. When Su-Jin finds out, she puts the family's resources to her own use and begins staging elaborate hoaxes to terrorize Tae-Hyun with visions of the mulgwishin. After a particularly horrifying stunt, Tae-Hyun loses control, and in a panic attacks the ghostly image of the mulgwishin with a knife. Only after he successfully slays his tormentor does he realize that he has killed his wife. *The 1960s Korean horror film "Mulgwishin" does not exist anywhere other than your head*