Guimoon: The Lightless Door
First Korean film in 2D, ScreenX, and 4DX.
**Guimoon: The Lightless Door** (Korean: 귀문) is a 2021 South Korean horror film directed by Sim Deok-Geun. The cast includes Kim Kang-woo, Kim So-hye, and Lee Jung-hyung. The movie marks the first time a Korean film has been released simultaneously in 2D, ScreenX, and 4DX formats. This setup lets viewers feel the characters’ fear through screens that extend onto both side walls, along with motion seats and special environmental effects.
The story takes place in an abandoned training center in Guisari. In 1990, a building manager killed several guests and then himself. The site became the scene of an annual recurrence, leading to the center’s closure. It eventually gained a reputation as a haunted house. Do-jin (Kim Kang-woo), the director of a Psychic Research Institute, enters the center to uncover the truth behind his mother’s death. Three college students—Hye-young (Kim So-hye), Tae-hoon, and Won-jae—also go there to film a video for a contest. As they open a door without light, they encounter a terrifying situation.
The cast includes Kim Kang-woo as Do-jin, Kim So-hye as Hye-young (the student leader), Lee Jung-hyung as Tae-hoon (a student turned reporter for a horror video contest), Hong Jin-ki as Won-jae, and Jang Jae-ho as Kim Seok-ho.
The film was shot in an abandoned building in Pocheon to enhance its horror atmosphere. It was released on August 25, 2021, across 692 screens in standard 2D, as well as in 4DX (which moves seats and adds wind, light, and scents) and ScreenX (which uses three walls as screens).
According to the Korean Film Promotion Council (Kofic), the movie ranked fourth at the Korean box office on its opening day. By December 12, 2021, it had earned US$676,659 from 93,657 admissions.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Sim Deok-Geun
- Producer
- Joo Seong-ho
- Starring
- Kim Kang-woo · Kim So-hye · Lee Jung-hyung
- Cinematography
- Yoon Jong-ho
- Studio
- Jupiter Film / Ghost Pictures Co., Ltd.
- Distributor
- CJ Entertainment
- Released
- 25 August 2021
- Runtime
- 85 minutes
- Country
- South Korea
- Language
- Korean
- Gross
- US$676,659
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The film depicts a bizarre horror situation in an abandoned training center in Guisari. In 1990, a building manager murdered some guests then committed suicide, leading to annual occurrences and the center's closure. It became a ghost house as rumors circulated. Do-jin (Kim Kang-woo), director of the Psychic Research Institute, enters the training center to unveil the secrets of his mother's death. Three college students—Hye-young (Kim So-hye), Tae-hoon, and Won-jae—also enter to shoot a video for a competition, and they encounter a chilling horror situation as they open the lightless door.
Reader's Guide
Guimoon: The Lightless Door holds significance as a technical milestone in Korean cinema, being the first Korean film produced simultaneously in 2D, ScreenX, and 4DX. This allowed audiences to feel the horror of the characters with screens extended to both walls and 4DX motion chairs with environmental effects. The film was shot in an abandoned building in Pocheon to enhance its horror atmosphere. Upon release on August 25, 2021, it ranked 4th at the Korean box office on its first day. As of December 12, 2021, it grossed US$676,659 from 93,657 admissions. Its legacy lies in pioneering multi-format horror experiences in South Korea.
Did You Know?
- The film was simultaneously produced in 2D, ScreenX, and 4DX versions, a first for any Korean film.
- The film ranked 4th on the Korean box office on its first day of release.
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