Kim Soo-jin directs and Lee Je-hui writes Noise, a South Korean horror film centered on Seo Ju-hee (Han Soo-a) who becomes fixated on maintaining absolute silence in her apartment. The movie opens with Ju-hee soundproofing her home, leaving one small section of the ceiling unfinished. She’s been experiencing unsettling noises—clicks, scratches, and knocks—and that exposed area seems to be the origin. Simultaneously, Ju-hee's downstairs neighbor regularly calls her through the building intercom and appears at her door each night, threatening violence if she doesn’t maintain complete quiet. Ju-hee’s sister, Ju-young (Lee Sun-bin), is deaf and works in a factory. She previously lived with Ju-hee but moved to a work dormitory after her sister began hearing things that Ju-young couldn't perceive. Now, four days have passed, and Ju-hee has gone missing. It falls to Ju-young and Ki-hoon (Kim Min-seok), Ju-hee’s boyfriend and coworker, to discover what happened to her and the source of the disturbing sounds. Noise employs sound in a manner reminiscent of Sound of Metal. Ju-young uses hearing aids and a speech recognition app on her phone, which the film utilizes in various ways. When she removes her hearing aids and silence descends, her phone picks up audio patterns that translate into unsettling messages. Those who hear this noise seem to become influenced and act violently. It’s assumed someone with a hearing disability would be safe, but Ju-young finds herself just as vulnerable. The film investigates the idea that no one is entirely protected. For much of its length, Noise explores whether Ju-hee is the only person experiencing these noises. Flashbacks to their time living together reveal Ju-hee hearing things that Ju-young doesn’t—even when Ju-young is wearing her hearing aids. This leaves viewers questioning if Ju-hee has heightened sensitivity to sound or if she's perceiving sounds that aren't real. The supernatural horror film initially suggests a paranormal entity as the cause of events, but it gradually shifts toward a more psychological and revenge-driven narrative in its conclusion. The entire building’s residents share an unhealthy obsession with silence, and those who die don’t seem to disappear. After Ju-hee vanishes, notes begin appearing on her door—initially simple warnings that evolve into elaborate threats written in blood. Something occurred in apartment 604, Ju-hee's unit, resulting in one of the film’s most effective and unsettling scenes. Ju-young starts experiencing vivid nightmares and seeing things that aren’t there. The neighbors are all concealing secrets; some willingly, others because they are compelled to due to the building facing potential reconstruction. A locked basement filled with trash is examined, raising questions about whether this is due to neglect or if something else explains the odor. The performances in Noise are genuinely unsettling, with many characters exhibiting behavior that fluctuates between menacing and sympathetic. Deaths occur, but there’s a reason behind them—a seemingly logical reaction. However, it's possible the film doesn’t reach its full potential because of shifts in direction. The ending feels unresolved, suggesting things have improved, but implying this sort of paranormal activity will continue for future installments. Noise is an auditory nightmare fueled by uncertainty and a sense of foreboding. It excels at times, though ultimately it's somewhat disappointing due to the lackluster explanation behind its initially creepy sounds. Moments of genuine dread are diminished by what feels like weak writing.

Source on TMDB