The curse hidden within the white melody Music is often seen as a universal language, capable of transcending barriers and touching the deepest parts of our souls. It has the power to inspire, uplift, and bring people together. However, within the beauty and enchantment of melodies lies a hidden curse – a dark side that not many are aware of. Music has been used throughout history for various purposes, not all of them noble. In ancient times, certain melodies were believed to possess mystical powers that could heal, ward off evil spirits, or even manipulate the emotions of others. These melodies were carefully guarded by secret societies and only shared with those deemed worthy.
Jin Se-Yeon as Jenny . Usually is the main singer for Pink Dolls' songs but doesn't have much stage presence, the first victim of the 'White Curse'.
Now that Pink Dolls is down to one member hard to call Eun-Ju that name as she s now a solo artist and has finally recorded the White song which after two days is already 1 on the charts. As the girls explore Eun-Ju happens to find a bunch of video cassettes behind a row of revolving mirrors that somehow survived the fire I know what you re thinking just go along with it.
These melodies were carefully guarded by secret societies and only shared with those deemed worthy. However, there was always a price to pay for accessing this hidden knowledge. Even today, we can see the curse of the white melody in action.
The curse hidden within the white melody
I don’t frequently get excited about horror films but White: The Melody of the Curse was somewhat of an exception. I had consistently heard good things about its directors, Kim Gok and Kim Sun, a pair who have been churning out low-budget indie horrors since 2003. Sadly, I have not had a chance to see any of them yet. White is their first big budget, commercial film, and it is also fairly ambitious, especially from a technical standpoint despite employing a number of done-to-death (excuse the pun) clichés. The other reason I was curious to see this film was its subject matter, as the narratives takes place within the fiercely competitive K-Pop milieu. While I do not know very much about this global Hallyu phenomenon it does fascinate me and upon hearing about this project, I felt the topic particularly conducive to horror.
| K-Pop idols |
The story gets underway very succinctly and involves a pop band which has fallen from grace. One of them, Eun-joo (Ham Eun-jeong), a former back-up dancer, serves as the team leader and is ostracized due to her background. Her benefactor arranges for them to record in a new studio, which is fancy and high tech but harbors a mysterious past. Eun-joo discovers a secret compartment behind a mirror in the dance hall and within it an old videocassette featuring an old K-Pop routine. This becomes the group’s new song, which, as the title suggests, is indeed cursed. One by one, each girl who is given the coveted center position is subjected to awful accidents and a bit of haunting for good measure. Eun-joo seeks to uncover the secret of the tape with a little help from her friend before it’s too late.
One thing about horror films is that everyone who watches them is looking for something different: some want a good story; others a few good scares; and others still are in it for the blood and guts. White delivers on all three of these but probably not to an ultimately satisfying degree for any. I appreciated the K-Pop setting with its fan obsession and competition between performers but the story that is set within it features a too-good to be true haunted location, a cursed video, and a long-haired and decomposed ghost seeking revenge. This is very unoriginal stuff and a little disappointing. Next, while there are some good scares, some of the set pieces are borderline ridiculous and have the potential of eliciting an undesired reaction. Finally, there is some slightly gruesome violence but these moments are infrequent and lack cinematic flair, which is odd considering how well made the film is.
| Strong use of colours and production design |
For me some of the strongest sequences were those in between the scares which were either investigatory, expository, or relationship-based. One reason they worked quite well is that they are so well shot. It is not often with this kind of film that the production values prove a real asset, A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) comes to mind, but that was always designed as a ‘prestige film’. The colors, framing, and especially the use of the locations were at times beautiful, foreboding, and menacing. The set pieces themselves also display strong mise-en-scène but I found it less convincing than the other scenes. This may have been because there was a tendency to overdo it, mostly on the editing side. Rarely, in my opinion, does fancy, hyperkinetic editing add something genuine to a film. As much as I can appreciate its value for horror, which is so often low-budget, quick cuts all too often rob a scene of tension, which needs to be earned.
There isn’t too much to say about the performances, which mostly veer into caricature, but everyone seems to handles themselves relatively well here. A couple of the starlets are also K-Pop singers, I wonder if this added anything to their performances. Arguably, not a great deal is required for these kinds of performances.
| Generic staple, à la ring |
Despite the reliance on very generic staples, especially of local Asian horror cinema, in my eyes White was a cut above recent K-Horror entries, a lot of which have been disappointing, save for a a few gems like Possessed (2009) and the brilliant Bedevilled (2010), although the latter probably lends itself more to the revenge thriller categorization. However, given people's very different tastes when it comes to horror, I would suggest that you would do best to approach this one with caution. I enjoyed myself and am looking forward to the next Kim gok and Kim Sun film, hopefully they will give us something a little more ambitious. Perhaps that is why there is something lacking with White, at times it feels like a test run.
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Yet despite this by the numbers horror movie I actually enjoyed watching “White”. Not because of the obvious “eye candy” given that the main characters are all attractive girls, but that it shows the tragedy unfolding as we see the girls ill-intended means of survival ends up working against them in the cutthroat music industry. Even seeing the fate of the girls in the end is entertaining to watch if only to show that despite their best intentions to right the wrongs they did, they still got it all wrong on whom exactly the ghost was. Coupling that to their actions toward each other (from humiliation to backstabbing to a suggested scene of sexual favors) helps to further cement the girls into being less bubble headed and more in the line of genuine characters whose only sin was being too driven to success and suffering a tragic fate because of it. They may have been innocent in not knowing the true nature of the song “White” yet it doesn’t excuse them of their actions and their end during the third act. This is especially true of the one girl near the end that goes solo and does what she can to forget what took place, with tragic (thought I did laugh at two individuals demises) results.
Popular songs often feature catchy hooks and melodies that seem to get stuck in our heads, whether we want them to or not. These earworms, as they are commonly known, can be incredibly frustrating and distracting. We find ourselves humming the tune, singing the lyrics, and unable to focus on anything else. It's as if the melody has taken control of our minds, forcing us to listen against our will. But the curse goes even deeper than mere annoyance. Many songs are carefully crafted to manipulate our emotions. They can make us feel happy, sad, or nostalgic, all with the power of a few notes. Advertisers and filmmakers have long recognized this power and have used it to their advantage. They carefully choose the right music to accompany their products or scenes, knowing that it will influence our perception and make us more susceptible to their message. However, the curse of the white melody is not limited to manipulation and distraction. Some songs have a much darker side. They hold within them a power that can bend the will of those who listen. These cursed melodies can tap into our deepest fears and desires, coaxing us to act in ways we never thought possible. They can drive us to madness, causing us to lose ourselves in a whirlwind of emotions. The curse of the white melody is a reminder that not everything is as it seems. While music can bring joy and inspiration, it can also be a powerful tool that can be used against us. We must approach it with caution and be aware of its potential to influence our thoughts and actions. Only by understanding and respecting its power can we protect ourselves from its curse..
Reviews for "Peering into the curse that echoes within the white melody"
1. Emily - 2/5 - Unfortunately, I found "The Curse Hidden Within the White Melody" to be quite disappointing. The story felt extremely predictable and lacked any real depth or originality. The characters were one-dimensional with cliched personalities that made it difficult to connect with them. Additionally, the pacing was off, with the story dragging on in some parts and rushing through important moments in others. Overall, I was hoping for a more engaging and thought-provoking read, but this novel just didn't deliver.
2. John - 1/5 - I cannot express enough how much I did not enjoy "The Curse Hidden Within the White Melody". The plot was extremely convoluted and seemed to lack any real coherence or purpose. The writing style was also quite mediocre, making it hard to stay engaged or interested in the story. Furthermore, the characters were poorly developed and lacked any depth, making it impossible for me to care about their journey. Overall, I found this novel to be a complete waste of time and would not recommend it to anyone.
3. Samantha - 2.5/5 - While "The Curse Hidden Within the White Melody" had its moments, overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied. The pacing was incredibly slow, and it took far too long for any real action or intrigue to take place. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unrealistic, making it difficult to connect with the characters or their struggles. The ending also left much to be desired, leaving too many loose ends and unresolved plot points. Overall, I think this novel had potential but failed to deliver on its promises.