Wall to Wall (Netflix) Review: Close-quarters thriller

Wall to Wall excels in its exploration of economic equality and an engaging first half, but is let down by an overstuffed conclusion.

If the public don’t act quickly, they fear never having the chance to own any real estate in the city. In their minds, this would be a missed opportunity to live the Seoul Dream with the goal of climbing the corporate ladder and becoming wealthy. 

Among such buyers is Woo-sung (Kang Ha-neul of Yadang: The Snitch), who spends his life savings on purchasing a unit in a swanky high-rise in the heart of Seoul. At first, this seems like a dream come true, though it isn’t long before his crushing debt becomes a stressful burden.

The film then fast forwards to 2024, where viewers see an emotionally exhausted Woo-sung alone in his apartment. Since purchasing the unit in 2021, his wife has left him, and the space is now a complete mess, with bottles and food wrappers left all over the floor. Woo-sung has also stopped turning the lights on in his apartment as he’s trying to save money on bills. To add to the problem, he’s constantly woken up at night by loud banging and knocking sounds, but the source of these disturbances remains a mystery. Almost all of his neighbors believe that he is responsible for the racket, yet he insists he’s not the one causing it. 

The first half of Wall to Wall unfolds as a mystery, with Woo-sung traveling from floor to floor in his apartment building, in an attempt to locate the source of the noise. Conversely, viewers witness many of our protagonist’s strange neighbors showing up at his apartment in the early hours, begging for him to be quiet. This is when the story is at its best, as the audience is introduced to an array of creepy tenants with whom Woo-sung interacts. Each one of them seems guilty and as if they’re keeping some dark secret. At no point is the noise-causing culprit predictable, which maintains the viewer’s interest and keeps the narrative intense and exciting.

Wall to Wall also effectively sheds light on economic inequality and how expensive cities have made it particularly challenging for Millennials and Gen Z to buy homes. Although Woo-sung is ecstatic over his purchase at the start of the film, we see the mental toll that trying to keep up with the cost of living has placed upon him. Thereafter, his desperation to free himself of debt leads him to make poor financial decisions, one of which involves an investment in crypto that goes sideways.

Wall to Wall is self-aware when it comes to demonstrating the weight of financial hardships a vast number of people worldwide face each year and the extreme measures people can take in an attempt to make ends meet. Woo-sung is overworked and seemingly underpaid, juggling two jobs and long hours merely to get by, yet it still isn’t enough to live comfortably. It’s painfully realistic and a theme that will resonate closely with many.

Despite Wall to Wall’s strengths and a fantastic performance from Kang, who effectively reflects Woo-sung spiraling to his breaking point, once the source of the noise is uncovered, it’s a lot less interesting compared to the film’s promising buildup. By the time the reveal occurs, the reasoning behind the story’s events feels too grand for its own good. 

Ultimately, Wall to Wall stumbles at the finish line and loses all momentum by the film’s close. In the final act it veers into far-fetched territory while attempting to juggle multiple ideas that fail to match the quality of the film’s first half. The result is a conclusion that feels overstuffed and overambitious. This is a real pity, given its intriguing concept and the movie’s effective and relatable exploration of economic inequality. 

Wall to Wall is by no means one of the best films of the year, and is far from perfect. That said, if you’re a fan of South Korean thrillers and Kang Ha-neul, there are several strong themes and effective elements at play that’ll make the viewing experience somewhat enjoyable up until the story’s rocky ending.

Wall to Wall (84제곱미터) is now available to stream globally on Netflix.