In 2024, Korean cinema made its mark when Exhuma - a horror film mixed with mystical elements - was released with special anticipation from domestic and international audiences. Director Jang Jae-hyun, who made his mark with Svaha: The Sixth Finger and The Priests, continued to delve deeply into the theme of spirituality and folk beliefs, clearly depicting the mysterious invisible world of Korean people.
The film tells the story of a wealthy family living in Los Angeles, when their newborn child is haunted by a series of supernatural phenomena. They seek out two young shamans Kim Go-eun (Lee Hwa-rim) and Lee Do-hyun (Yoon Bong-gil), then continue to invite feng shui expert Choi Min-sik and funeral director Yoo Hae-jin. The group returns to Korea to excavate the tomb of their ancestors in the hope of ending the curse, but accidentally unleashes an ancient evil force. The 134-minute film was highly appreciated by critics and audiences.
The performances of the famous cast - especially Kim Go-eun and Choi Min-sik - and the storytelling style that contains both science and superstition, are praised as "yin and yang", blending reality and the supernatural. In addition, elements of folk beliefs such as grave rituals, feng shui, sacrificial foods ... both create a horror space and serve as a backdrop for the film's profound spiritual message. Technically, the film is highly appreciated for its use of real props and outdoor filming, limiting CGI, making haunted objects more realistic and haunting. The scenes of tomb building, rituals, and the appearance of supernatural entities – such as human-faced snakes, zombie samurai – made a strong impression on viewers, although some viewers also felt that the story was complicated and lacking focus.
The film was not only an artistic success but also an impressive financial pressure: it topped the Korean box office with more than 6 million viewers after 11 days, and became the Korean film that won big in Vietnam, surpassing Dune 2 and Kung Fu Panda 4. After the 2024 Baeksang Awards, Exhuma won many prestigious nominations and victories, including excellent director, excellent actor, etc.; and also led the nominations at
In short, Exhuma is a remarkable horror work not only thanks to its unique folk material and quality acting, but also thanks to its meticulously crafted filming techniques and sound design. Although somewhat confusing in structure, the film still successfully creates a haunting, ghostly experience, ending as an invitation for viewers to delve deeper into the multi-layered spiritual world of Korean cinema.
