Choi Min-sik and Yoo Hye-jin in a scene from 'Eghuma' Photo Credit: YouTube/ColumbiaPicturesphiles
Korean director Jang Jae-hyun's latest offering is a fascinating blend of horror and tradition set against the backdrop of the eerily wooded countryside near the North Korean border. exhuma The seamless blending of horror subgenres, marrying the macabre with a celebration of Korean cultural richness (a tried-and-tested formula for success) and exploring the horrific legacy of colonial occupation.
The film centers on two magician siblings, Hwa-rim (Kim Go-eun) and Bong-gil (Lee Do-hyun), who are called to help a wealthy Korean immigrant family who is haunted by an evil force. Targeting their newborn son. He is joined by veteran geomancer Sang-deok (a superb Choi Min-sik) and his Christian apprentice Yeong-geun (Yoo Hae-jin) in proper Korean. Ghost Busters Fashion is setting the stage for layers and layers of horrifying truths waiting to be uncovered.
The cast complements the contrasting generations of secret dealers with Go-yoon's Hwa-rim, who embodies Min-sik's more optimistic, risk-taking opportunism versus Min-sik's pragmatism. Both exceptional performances complement each other and serve as building blocks for the team's fluid chemistry.
exhuma (korean)
Director: Jang Jae-Hyun
Mould: Kim Go-eun, Choi Min-sik, Lee Do-hyun, Yoo Hye-jin
Runtime: 134 minutes
Story: The process of digging an unlucky grave reveals dire consequences buried beneath.
exhuma The tone and theme expertly borrows from East Asian folk horror classics, paying homage to the genre while carving out its own path of terror. Like echoes of revered predecessors lamentation And Magic echoes throughout the film, unfolding in an embrace of atmospheric dread and immersing the audience in a world where the line between the supernatural and the mundane blurs with frightening ease. Like your ancestors, exhuma It proves to be a wicked addition to the folk horror canon.
what sets exhuma Furthermore it has rich detailed cultural symbolism. Where Korean author Na Hong-jin scratches the surface as a crash course in Korean folklore, exhuma Keeps digging, and digs some more, uncovering a history of ritualistic beliefs and practices, bones and all. Drawing from Korean shamanism, Buddhism, Christianity and neighboring traditions including feng shui, cremation rituals and myriad foreboding signs; The film benefits from a fundamentally nuanced understanding of Korean spirituality. However, the script is excellent at making its rules clear, ensuring easy understanding, and ensuring plenty of terror that will leave you eager to delve even deeper.
Yoo Hae-jin, Lee Do-hyun, Kim Go-eun and Choi Min-sik in a scene from 'Eghuma' Photo Credit: YouTube/ColumbiaPicturesphiles
The film is also a meditation on the lingering wounds of colonialism, particularly the trauma caused by the Japanese occupation during World War II. The film confronts the legacy of oppression and explores the depth of generational trauma. A flight attendant's misconception about Hwa-rim's nationality in the opening scene foreshadows a twist that permeates the film's dual folkloric identities.
But don't let the cultural deep dive scare you off – the film also works as a multilingual mix of horror subgenres for everyone. The story, told in two parts, morphs from an exorcism nightmare into an unexpected creature feature and delivers the goods with a distinctive narrative style.
Kim Go-eun in a scene from 'Eghuma' Photo Credit: YouTube/ColumbiaPicturesphiles
A visually stunning and aural feast, exhuma A testament to the power of practical effects and immersive sound design – the bizarre 'anima' that results from Shogun Fans are beating themselves with bricks under the mesmerizing orchestration of a traditional Korean shamanic ritual, transferring malevolent spirits into five pig carcasses through some cool swordplay, vibrant costumes and some book drum rhythms.
Whereas exhuma While its pacing may falter a bit, making its runtime longer than necessary, its complexity and thematic depth more than compensate for its extended stay. Sure, the film may not deliver traditional scares, but that doesn't matter when you're immersed in a story. With a mix of cultural authenticity, historical resonance and good old-fashioned style tips, there's more to it exhuma Than meets the eye.
Exhuma is currently playing in theatres.