With the broad attention is its midnight screenings received, The Quiet Family has paved the way for the Korean horror genre to rise which had lost its place in Korean cinema. However it is hard to accurately label this film as a horror film as it is a self-proclaimed "comedy on cruelty." Accordingly, this film separates itself from the predecessors of the horror genre that deal with morally serious topics such as vengeful ghosts in the feudal era. The horrific element loses its edge as the film progresses with cynical humor. A family purchases an isolated cottage in the mountains. At first, they are busy soliciting guests with great expectations. However when their first guest turns up as a corpse the next day, things take a tragic turn for the family. Afraid of losing their business, they bury the body and vow silence. Unfortunately, this leads them to commit a chain of murders. As the bodies pile up, the family becomes more bold and indifferent to the killings. It is at this point that horror becomes comic relief, and burying bodies becomes a mechanical daily routine. Witty dialogue, the timely arrangement of events, and precise timing evoke both shudders and laughter. However it is questionable as whether this film will succeed in rousing consciousness toward our indifference to violence. (Lim Kyung-Hun)