| Native Title | 노이즈 |
| Also Know as | Noijeu |
| Director | Kim Soo-Jin |
| Writer | Lee Je-Hee, Kim Yong-Hwan, Kim Soo-Jin |
| Distributor | BY4M Studio |
| Air Time | Wednesday |
| Content Rating | 15+ - Teens 15 or older |
| Runtime | 93 minutes |
| Genre | Horror, Thriller, Mystery, Psychological, Suspense, Supernatural, Social Commentary |
| Language | Korean |
| Country | South Korea |
| Release Date | 2025-06-25 |
"Noise" delivers chilling apartment horror rooted in everyday tensions.
"Noise" (original title: "노이즈") is a 2025 South Korean horror thriller film directed by Kim Soo-jin in his feature directorial debut. Blending psychological suspense, supernatural elements, and sharp social commentary on inter-floor noise complaints – a major real-life issue in densely populated Korean apartment buildings – the film runs for 93 minutes. It stars Lee Sun-bin, Kim Min-seok, Han Soo-ah, and Ryu Kyung-soo. The movie premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024 and received a theatrical release in South Korea on June 25, 2025.
Sisters Joo-young and Joo-hee finally achieve their dream of owning an apartment and move into their new home. Joo-young, who has a hearing impairment since childhood, begins to experience a mysterious and unsettling noise emanating from within the building. Their lives spiral into nightmare when Joo-hee mysteriously disappears without a trace from the apartment.
Joo-young rushes back from her factory job and teams up with Joo-hee's boyfriend, Ki-hoon, to search for her sister. As they investigate, they encounter a threatening downstairs neighbor convinced the sisters are the source of the disturbing sounds, along with growing hostility from other residents. Strange visions and eerie noises intensify, leading to disturbing discoveries about the building and a haunting truth behind the disappearance.
"Noise" achieved strong commercial success in South Korea, topping the box office upon release with high seat occupancy rates and surpassing one million moviegoers in 18 days. It continued to perform well, drawing over 1.5 million viewers and grossing more than US$12 million domestically. The film earned praise for its atmospheric sound design, gritty cinematography, effective tension-building in a confined apartment setting, and blend of horror with social commentary on housing issues, community apathy, and mental strain. Audiences and viewers highlighted Lee Sun-bin's compelling lead performance and the film's ability to unsettle through both silence and noise.
The film draws inspiration from real Korean societal frustrations with "floor noise" or inter-floor noise complaints in apartment complexes.
Lee Sun-bin's character incorporates a hearing impairment, which plays a key role in the sensory horror and sound design.
It features a strong emphasis on atmospheric sound as a narrative and terror element, creating disorientation and dread.
The production had a modest budget of around US$2.5 million but delivered impressive box office results.
Cast members, including Lee Sun-bin, Han Soo-ah, and Kim Min-seok, publicly celebrated the one-million-viewer milestone with heartfelt messages.
"Noise" stands out as a gripping and stylish horror thriller that transforms everyday apartment living into a source of profound unease. With its masterful sound design, strong central performances, and thoughtful exploration of social issues alongside supernatural chills, it offers a tense, paranoia-inducing experience that lingers. While the story takes some bold turns, it delivers satisfying genre thrills and emotional depth, making it a notable entry in recent Korean horror.
"Noise" screened at prestigious festivals including TIFF, Fantasia International Film Festival (North American premiere), and Sitges.
It opened in theaters on June 25, 2025.
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