Mis 84 m²

This could only be summed up as "INTERESTING IDEAS .. the movie." I believe there are quite a few small wins here in terms of thematic setup, but the payoffs are never as interesting. It starts with a tense thriller premise (that revolves around noise pollution), before diving into a bitcoin subplot and a larger real-estate conspiracy at play. No complaints concerning the performances -- Kang Ha-neul, Seo Hyun-woo, and Yeom Hye-ran deliver quite solidly. Writer-director Kim Tae-joon shows inventiveness in the staging, at least in the initial portions, before running out of steam in the final act, where it turns into a familiar, bloody showdown. Wall to Wall also suffers from the same issue as Tae-joon's earlier flick Unlocked, where the length of the film (1h 58m) lessened its conclusive impact. The nightmarish thriller part of the film ranks way above the rest, and most of that's restricted to the first hour.

As "Wall to Wall" (2025 release from South Korea; 118 min.; original title "84 m2") opens, we are in "Seoul 2021" and as we watch Seoul's endless sea of skyscrapers, Noh Woo-sung purchases a small condo measuring 84 square meters (900 sqaure feet). We the go to "Seoul, August 2024" and Woo-sung struggles to keep up with his mortgage, maintenance fees and other expenses. On top of that, he notices strange noises coming from his neighbor below. Or is it his neighbor upstairs? At this point we are 10 minutes into the movie.

Couple of comments: houses, condos and apartments in Asia are typically a lot smaller than what we are used to in the West, and certainly in the US, where there is never-ending space everywhere except a few major cities like New York and Chicago. This South Korean movie starts out as your typical drama: how to deal with noise pollution presumably coming from your neighbors. But the movie morphs into something quite different in its second hour. This movie is super plot-heavy so the less about that, the better and I won't spoil any of it. I quite enjoyed the second half of the movie, more so than the first half. The non-names cast (for me anyway) does quite well. And of course Seoul, itself a character in the movie, is an amazing place.

"Wall to Wall" started streaming in Netflix about a week ago. I happen to read a positive review of it in the British weekly The Economist, and that was good enough for me to check it out. The movie is currently rated 62% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, and that sounds about right to me. If you are in the mood for a foreign drama/thriller about life in a small condo set in a skyscraper, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

Not exactly sure how to feel about this. The premise is good, the first half of the movie is good but then it kinda falls off after the second half.

The acting of the protagonist is so nice that he is probably the reason you wanna keep watching the movie.

It just feels like the execution of the movie could be... better I guess.

Still, not that bad.

It was intense and with good twists. The movie kept me engaged throughout with its psychological thriller elements and unexpected turns. The performances were solid and the direction created a tense atmosphere that made for an entertaining watch. I found it to be a well-crafted thriller that delivers on its promises.

"Wall to Wall" (2025), co-directed by Kim Tae-joon and Sharon S. Park, is a South Korean psychological thriller that transforms the relatable frustrations of apartment living into a gripping and often anxiety-inducing experience. It follows a man whose dream of homeownership turns into a nightmare of mysterious noises, financial strain, and escalating neighborly conflict. The film excels in its initial build-up of tension and its sharp social commentary on modern urban pressures and economic inequality. While some critics note that the plot can become a bit overstuffed in its later acts, the compelling performances and claustrophobic atmosphere make it a memorable watch.

Is it worth watching? If you're a fan of intense psychological thrillers, especially those with a strong social commentary and a willingness to explore uncomfortable realities, "Wall to Wall" is definitely worth your time.