Khan-Hyolin's 'Jam': "A Subtle Reflection on Genre Films Mixing Laughter and Horror"

Director Yoo Jae-sun made a strong impression at the Cannes Film Festival with the film 'Jam' (Sleep).

'Jam' was invited to the Critics' Week at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on the 21st of last month and was unveiled as a world premiere, receiving high praise from both domestic and international media. Immediately after the screening, loud applause filled the theater, and lead actors Lee Sun-kyun, Jung Yu-mi, and director Yoo Jae-sun stood up to respond with greetings.

Screen International described it as "a film enriched with a simple yet imaginative take on sleepwalking and skillful twists," while Sortir ? Paris called it "an engaging and dramatic thriller that leaves no room to catch your breath."

Trois Couleurs praised it as "a well-crafted genre film blending laughter and horror, offering a deep and subtle reflection on marriage," and Movierama noted that it "crosses genres such as horror, fantasy, and comedy, laying the foundation for reflections on marriage and family, faith and tradition, consciousness and unconsciousness, science and medicine."

Letterboxd, naming 'Jam' as one of the best films at this year's Cannes Film Festival, said it "knows how to capture and surprise the audience's attention." Additionally, Konbini commented that it "delicately combines humor and horror codes while mixing genres."

'Jam' tells the story of a happy newlywed couple, Hyun-soo (played by Lee Sun-kyun) and Su-jin (played by Jung Yu-mi), who are plagued by Hyun-soo's abnormal behavior during sleep, a nightmare-like secret of terrifying horror that begins the moment he falls asleep, and their struggle to unravel it. The film is set to be released this fall.