Directed by: JANG Jae-hyun Starring: CHOI Min-Sik (Oldboy, I Saw the Devil, Noryang: Deadly Sea) KIM Go-Eun (Hero, Little Women) YOO Hai-Jin (A Taxi Driver) LEE Do-Hyun (Prison Playbook, Sweet Home) Genre: Horror, Thriller/Mystery Run Time: 134 minutes Rating: Not Rated Language: Korean (with some Japanese and English dialogue) w/ English subtitles Release Date: March 15, 2024 | Los Angeles only March 22, 2024 | Expanding across North American markets WELL GO USA ENTERTAINMENT
Synopsis: When a renowned shaman (KIM Go-Eun) and her protégé (Lee Do-hyun) are hired by a wealthy, enigmatic family, they begin investigating the cause of a disturbing supernatural illness that affects only the first-born children of each generation. With the help of a knowledgeable mortician (YOO Hai-jin) and the country’s most revered geomancer (CHOI Min-sik), they soon trace the affliction’s origin to a long-hidden family grave located on sacred ground. Sensing an ominous aura surrounding the burial site, the team opts to exhume and relocate the ancestral remains immediately. But as something much darker emerges, they soon discover what befalls those who dare to mess with the wrong grave.
EXHUMA from start to finish is very different from the normal Horror films that North America is accustomed to. First, the runtime of the film isn’t rushed, there’s a slow-burn feeling from the get-go. The film never falters in its plot, the story stays on point and keeps any subplots closely hidden.
The cast is marvellous, especially Choi Min-sik who plays Kim Sang Geomancer Kim Sang Deok. His portrayal is captivating and draws the viewer’s eyes to his direction anytime he’s on screen. There’s an intenseness to his demeanour which also gets viewers vested in his character.
The cast plays their parts and embodies the characters to the fullest. This is a character-driven film with dashes of Horror and garnishes of mystery and intrigue.
EXHUMAN is laid out in chapters, just like a novel, this works well as the plot and locations are broken up into each chapter and fully fleshed out. The film also makes good use of locations and practical effects, forgoing the usual CGI creations.
Korean shamanism rituals are forefront throughout the production. This is interesting and rather different from anything that is shown in most Horror films. JANG Jae-hyun greatly emphasizes Korean culture, which at times won’t always make sense to viewers who aren’t familiar with Korean culture. This isn’t a negative though, rather it piques interest and just adds to the overall experience.
Is EXHUMA frightening, yes and no? It does use many of the Horror genre elements, but realism is the real frightening thing. The bulk of the film deals with death, which is a scary subject to many. This viewer felt an underlying atmosphere of finality, but also a feeling of restless ghosts.
EXHUMA is a film that doesn’t shy away from the subject of death, it embraces it. The cultural rituals and practices shown are a breath of fresh air to the Horror genre. Jae-hyun and cast tell a story of Korean culture with heart and soul. The film informs and entertains the audience with a modern ghost story with elements of mystery.
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