The Fertilizer Home

Jeong Hyo-jeong’s first feature, Oga, is a fusion of disparate elements. A horrific murder case involving the killing of family members is linked to the social theme of environmental pollution, while the quiet rural landscape is juxtaposed with the industrial imagery of a factory. Just as the protagonists, twin sisters Mi-jo and Eun-jo, have sharply contrasting personalities, Oga establishes opposing forces within the film and draws its genre energy from their collision. Why do such chilling events begin to unfold? Without offering a clear answer to this mysterious question, the film becomes increasingly contaminated by an uncanny, unsettling atmosphere. Its characters slowly lose their grip on sanity, shamanistic practices enter the picture, and the fragile relationships between people are eventually laid bare. The film leaves a strong impression with its vivid images and strikingly varied angles. While avoiding the excesses of hardcore gore, the director builds a visual language of horror in her own distinctive way.