Wall to Wall – Review | Netflix (4/5)

WALL TO WALL on Netflix is a new Psychological Thriller from South Korea. It’s one of the most stress-inducing movies I can ever remember having watched. And I mean that as a compliment. Read our full Wall to Wall movie review here and check it out on Netflix!

WALL TO WALL is a new Netflix thriller from South Korea (org. title: 84 Jegopmiteo), and it’s a real rush to watch. As with many psychological thrillers, there is an intensity that will give you heart palpitations, if done right. This one certainly manages to do that.

With a story about a young man who saves up enough money (and sells everything of value) to buy an apartment in Seoul. Ultimately, this will lead to financial ruin as the real estate market crashes, but there’s another (bigger?) issue: Noisy neighbors. Very noisy neighbors.

Continue reading our Wall to Wall movie review below. Find it on Netflix from July 18, 2025.

From bad to so much worse

With Wall to Wall, we begin on a happy note as Woo-seong has finally managed to get an apartment in Seoul. He feels like he is set for life, despite having used up everything of value he owned for the down payment.

Then there’s a time jump to three years later, and he is living in a messy apartment that has lost much of its value instead of increasing it. The messy apartment element is obviously his own fault, and a classic South Korean element: Characters creating their own mess. Literally in this case.

Sure, things may be bad for Woo-seong, but he is clearly able to make it all much worse.

One thing, however, is the financial ruin of his life. Another thing, which is constant, is the noise. In this newly built apartment complex, you can hear everything. Whether from the people upstairs or downstairs.

In fact, not being able to pinpoint the origin of the noisy neighbors makes for bickering and fighting between the floors of the building. Not only will the noise wake you up, but neighbors banging on your door asking you to be quiet, when you’re just as annoyed, will drive you crazy.

Fascinating and brutal escalations

The original title of 84 Jegopmiteo means “84 Square Meter” (just over 900 Square Feet) and refers to the most common apartment size in South Korea. For Woo-seong, an even smaller apartment would be enough, as he seems to only stay in his messy and filthy living room.

As the main protagonist, he tends to make lots of bad decisions. Sure, he has some bad luck as well, but he is a greedy fool all on his own. He even tries to get back on his feet via a crypto scheme, which results in one of the most stress-inducing storylines I’ve ever watched.

Everything is going downhill for this young man, and he seems to have lost everything. And that’s just at the halfway mark of Wall to Wall.

Then things get really crazy and escalate in new ways that are as fascinating as they are brutal. It’s elegant storytelling where it’s difficult to distinguish between the “good” and “bad”, but even harder to see how any of this can end well for anyone.

Amazing characters

When South Korean Netflix movies like Wall to Wall excel with these character-driven stories, it’s both thanks to well-written characters and brilliant portrayals by the cast. You’ll get to witness the characters as you watch this Netflix thriller, and several actors should also be familiar.

Front and center is Kang Ha-neul from Squid Game Seasons 2 and 3 as Woo-sung (or Woo-seong), the financially ruined homeowner who can’t even get enough peace and quiet to sleep.

As Eun-hwa, the resident representative [equivalent to the HOA], we see Yeom Hye-ran (Memories of Murder, Mask Girl). She lives in the luxurious penthouse apartment, but treats Woo-sung and his concerns with empathy.

In the role role as Jin-ho, the strange upstairs neighbor with tattoos and scars all over his body, we have Seo Hyun-woo (A Shop for Killers, Decisions to Leave). He seems like a dangerous man, which is more than enough reason to join forces with him. Especially for the very non-violent Woo-sung.

Watch Wall to Wall on Netflix now

Director Kim Tae-joon previously made the movie Unlocked, which also has a plot about identity and money. That one was also a thriller, but the two are very different. Still, not a bad idea to watch both, as they could be described as companion movies.

On an interesting side note, the issue of noise complaints is actually a huge problem in South Korea. In fact, we’ve just watched a movie at Fantasia 2025 with a similar plot. That one was a horror movie with a supernatural element, while this is very much a psychological thriller.

INFORMATION FROM THE FILMMAKERS

“According to the Korea Environment Corporation, there were 33,027 consultation cases related to inter-floor noise in 2024. And more than 110,000 people joined online support communities for those dealing with these issues. Inter-floor noise is currently a common and relatable issue for many Koreans living in apartment complexes.”

With a runtime just shy of two hours, you may think it’s too long. However, this is a classic South Korean movie, and halfway through, the main story changes its focus. Well, sort of, you’ll see. I was very confused at the halfway mark as the story seemed to have run its course.

Well, one story had, but the rest remained to be seen. In this came the real story of Wall to Wall. If you’re a fan of South Korean movies, then you’ll love this Netflix addition. If not, then Wall to Wall is a great introduction to the high quality of storytelling by South Korean filmmakers.

Wall to Wall premieres on Netflix globally on July 18, 2025.

Details

Director: Kim Tae-joon
Writer: Kim Tae-joon
Cast: Kang Ha-neul, Yeom Hye-ran, Seo Hyun-woo