SOURCE: ‘살목지’ 300만 돌파… ‘곤지암’ 넘어 역대 공포영화 흥행 2위 등극
Director Lee Sangmin personally shared his thoughts and expressed his joy as horror film 'Salmokji: Whispering Water' surpassed 3 million viewers.
According to distributor Showbox, 'Salmokji: Whispering Water' surpassed 3 million viewers as of the 10th, based on the Korean Film Council's ticketing system. The achievement was built on steady word-of-mouth and the high level of immersion experienced by audiences since its release.
'Salmokji: Whispering Water' tells the story of a mysterious figure captured on a road-view map service. A filming crew visits the reservoir to reshoot the road view, only to encounter an unknown entity lurking in the dark, deep water.
This record surpasses 'Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum,' which drew 2.67 million viewers in 2018, making 'Salmokji: Whispering Water' the second highest-grossing horror movie in Korean box office history. It is now closely chasing the current first place, 'A Tale of Two Sisters.'
Director Lee Sangmin said, "It's a number I never even imagined, so it sill doesn't feel real." He added, "Recently, I ran into audiences leaving the theater after watching 'Salmokji: Whispering Water.' Seeing them enjoying the movie gave me a great sense of reward."
As for the most memorable audience reaction, he quoted a review, "The director grabs you by the collar and takes you on a roller coaster ride." He explained, "It was especially meaningful because it perfectly matched the direction I intended while making the film. I'm grateful and fascinated by how viewers fill in the blanks of the movie in their own ways to complete another stories from it."
Regarding the film's success, he emphasized the strength of the cast lineup, saying, "The actors' charms were the biggest driving force. In particular, the chemistry between Gitae and Sooin was only possible because of the two actors, Kim Hyeyoon and Lee Jongwon. They turned even the unexplained aspects into something captivating."
He continued, "The entire process from production to release has been a series of great strokes of luck. The record this film achieved has now become another benchmark for me to surpass in the future. I'll return with even better films that can live up to the expectations."
