Midnight FM is a Korean foreign language film following a
horror podcast that comes to life.
The film centers in
on its main character Seon-yeong, who voices a popular radio show as one of
her listeners phones in and threatens her family. Which ultimately brings Seon-yeong
into a horror story of her own. One which is broadcasted live over the radiowaves across the nation.
Midnight FM touches on real world themes relating to the rise in
popularity of podcasts and radio-based shows across a wide range of platforms.
Despite being produced in the year 2010, Midnight FM still
tells a very thrilling story that could easily could be written in the present
day. Befitting an episode of a certain serial killer podcast series.
Synopsis
Seon-yeong used to be one of the country’s most popular television
reporters. Her time as a newscaster had her revered for her unwavering professionalism
and etiquette.
However, circumstances in her life caused her to resign and to take another job as a radio host. Now as an audio presenter, Seon-yeong works considerably less hours but still gets to continue her career in presenting. This time solely with her voice.
However, circumstances in her life caused her to resign and to take another job as a radio host. Now as an audio presenter, Seon-yeong works considerably less hours but still gets to continue her career in presenting. This time solely with her voice.
However, yet again, life gets in the way. Her young daughter
has a serious illness and needs treatment in America. So, Seon-yeong is set to
resign again and move State-side with her family. All that’s left to do is do
her last radio show before (literally) moving on.
But, as you may have guessed things go awry. During her final show
a mystery caller phones in and shares some startling personal information with
her. That he is holding Seon-yeong’s family hostage in their house. The man sets up
a live feed of her battered and captive family. Leaving Seon-yeong living every
mother’s worst nightmare.
He begins to make demands. If she tells anyone, he
will kill them. If she doesn’t do as he says, when he says it, he’ll kill them.
The remainder of the film follows Seon-yeong as she
scrambles to come to terms with her situation, as she strives to meet the
caller’s demands as the pieces of the plot slowly begin to come together.
All making for an incredibly thrilling, palpable and confusing show for her nationwide listeners.
All making for an incredibly thrilling, palpable and confusing show for her nationwide listeners.
Important Themes
Midnight FM tells a dramatic story steeped in suspense. One that translates amazing on film for an international audience.
As time passes, we continue to improve our technology. The
evolution of said tech has happened so fast that it’s hard to believe that
there were people in the year 2010 who didn’t have a phone (I myself only got my
first cell phone in 2010).
In less than a decade cellphones,
laptops, tablets and other devices have immensely improved. And with said
improvement, the internet has gone under an explosion of usage.
Pushing forward new technologies, popularizing new ways of communication and saying goodbye to traditional platforms.
One of the most notable being the radio.
Pushing forward new technologies, popularizing new ways of communication and saying goodbye to traditional platforms.
One of the most notable being the radio.
Go back 10 years and most of us were getting our news from
television reports, radio broadcasts and newspapers. Now, pretty much
everything is done via the internet and by extension by apps on your devices.
With almost everyone adopting new technologies you would think that this would leave radio as obsolete, right? Well, that is true to a certain extent as people rarely ever tune into radio frequencies with actual radios anymore.
With almost everyone adopting new technologies you would think that this would leave radio as obsolete, right? Well, that is true to a certain extent as people rarely ever tune into radio frequencies with actual radios anymore.
However, the radio itself has surprisingly embraced this change in tech
by creating internet-based stations as well as content creators ditching traditional
means of radio and switching to other platforms like Sirius FM, Pandora,
Spotify, iTunes, Soundcloud, YouTube and Twitch. Leading to many creators
creating podcasts with significant followings.
Today, the internet is saturated with so much content. As many of us made the switch
over to using our mobile devices as our primary devices, there was a belief
that this would spell the end for audio broadcasts. That video would become to wide-scale
norm.
Nonetheless, around from 2013-2015 it was as if people
began falling back in love with audio shows. This was in large part due to the podcast phenomenon.
It was as if overnight all of your favourite internet personalities and companies all has a podcast of some sort. Initially, iTunes was the place to listen to your favourite podcasts and as they became more popular, it was clear that diversification was bound to happen - and it did in a big way.
It was as if overnight all of your favourite internet personalities and companies all has a podcast of some sort. Initially, iTunes was the place to listen to your favourite podcasts and as they became more popular, it was clear that diversification was bound to happen - and it did in a big way.
One such event was the creation of the podcast Serial. This serial killer/crime podcast
changed the game entirely. Gaining unprecedented traction worldwide as millions
tuned in to follow along with the mind-bending story of a serial killer
escaping punishment.
It became a resounding success. With said success, content creators around the world began to take notice. And just like that podcasting was never the same.
It became a resounding success. With said success, content creators around the world began to take notice. And just like that podcasting was never the same.
Conclusion
Midnight FM remains to be one of my favourite Korean thrillers.
It may not be as violent or gruesome as other Korean serial killer/thriller
films, but it makes up for it in suspense.
The film tells a unique and compelling story that will certainly have your blood pumping.
The film tells a unique and compelling story that will certainly have your blood pumping.
For me, Midnight FM is one of those films
that left a lasting impression over me. Even years after my first viewing, I
remembered it so well. I think a large part of that was down to how good the
storytelling was.
Be sure to give Midnight FM a watch. It is well
worth your time. It is an incredible Korean thriller film, following a different kind
of story than your typical Asian killer thriller.
