- Release Date: 16/02/2024
- Cast: Choi Min-sik, Kim Go-eun, Yoo Hae-jin, Lee Do-hyun
- Director: Jang Jae-hyun
Innovative Scares and Immersive Storytelling! “Exhuma” Masterfully Blends History, Folklore, And Occult into A Dramatic and Impactful Film
Famous shamans Lee Hwa-rim (Kim Go-eun) and Yoon Bong-gil (Lee Do-hyun) are hired to help a millionaire Korean family in the US whose newborn child is suffering from what Hwa-rim classifies as a grave calling. It is a phenomenon in which a departed member or ancestor of the family is cremated improperly or in the wrong place, leading to the spirit manifesting in the world of the living and impacting the peace and happiness of the members of the existing family. The manifestation can be of different levels, and in the case of the millionaire family, it appears to be of a grave nature as it has led to numerous deaths and accidents.
Hwa-rim requests the head of the family, Park Ji-yong (Kim Jae-cheol) to hire additional help in the form of Kim Sang-deok (Choi Min-sik), a feng-shui master who is also a geomancer. For the uninitiated, a geomancer in Korea is someone who advises families on where to bury their departed members. He is also someone who digs up and reburies the mortal remains of people who have been incorrectly buried. Park Ji-yong agrees with Hwa-rim and arrives in Korea to take part in an elaborate ritual involving his departed grandfather, who had died long ago.
What no one could foresee was the horrifying truth that Ji-Yong’s grandfather’s death bore with it, and the digging up of his grave unleashes an evil that threatens to consume everyone involved in the ritual and unveils a great threat that runs deep into the history and presence of evil in Korea.
Layered And Immersive Story:
Horror films are generally thin on the story front. There is always a basic mystery, but it usually only scratches the surface, allowing audiences to enjoy the jump scares without delving too deeply into the narrative. These films typically feature a fixed protagonist and antagonist, though the latter may undergo changes in treatment and stature throughout the story. “Exhuma” breaks away from these established norms by presenting a narrative that evolves with each storytelling segment, introducing new evils and exposing aspects of the story that were previously part of a greater tale but not directly related to its initiation.
When the evil related to the spirit of the grandfather was settled off, I glanced at the remaining runtime and was surprised to see over an hour and twenty minutes left. I wondered what more the filmmakers could reveal, considering they had already unveiled so much about the spirit and exploited it for horror, albeit in a manner that was extremely unnerving but had begun to feel repetitive. However, it was at this juncture that the story took an unexpected turn, venturing in a completely different direction. This surprising twist occurs multiple times throughout the film, highlighting what I perceive as its greatest strength: the ability to impress, intrigue, and astonish. Nothing can prepare you for the revelations that unfold. The story is deeply rooted in Korean history and lore, yet the writing is so powerful and lucid that even an audience member like myself was provided with all the necessary information in the narrative to comprehend everything about the tale.
The Performances from The Ensemble Cast Are Fantastic:
For horror to be effective in the narrative, it must manifest in the mannerisms of the characters. Audiences can truly experience the magnitude of horror and the extent of the characters’ suffering only through the performances. As is almost always the case with Korean films, the performances from the ensemble cast are splendid. Led from the front by the brilliant Choi Min-sik (Oldboy, I Saw the Devil), the rest of the cast members also deliver immersive, and impactful performances. Choi Min-sik has portrayed similar characters before, which equips him with the necessary knowledge and insight on how to approach and accentuate the expressions and mannerisms of his character. This not only ensures that his character becomes the focal point from which the audience can take their emotional and dramatic cues but also informs them on how to react to certain portions of the film. He exudes a tough exterior throughout the film, so when he is outdone and scared, it delivers a whole new level of impact for the audience to grapple with.
Kim Go-eun and Lee Do-hyun, as the two shamans, play wonderfully off each other. Their connection and love for one another feel extremely genuine, which enhances some of the most dramatic scenes of the film, giving them even more power. Kim Go-eun is particularly captivating. I was absolutely impressed by her mannerisms and how she approaches a scene where her character is required to perform a physically demanding ceremony. She shares a simmering chemistry with Choi Min-sik, leading to some of the scenes between the two being absolutely delightful and adding significantly to the overall success of the film.
The Scares Are Envisioned with Flair and Uniqueness, Though They Peter Out Towards the End:
From start to finish, this film is genuinely creepy, maintaining its eerie atmosphere until the last 10-15 minutes of its runtime. Ghosts and spirits are depicted from innovative perspectives, appearing when least expected, ensuring that audiences are always on edge and never prepared for what’s about to unfold. This unpredictability is one of the best aspects a horror film can offer, and “Exhuma” executes it with flair and finesse. I was particularly impressed by how the filmmakers depicted the exploits of the spirit of the grandfather, easily the most unnerving portion of the film.
The second half of the film shifts its focus to a prehistoric evil, presented as a mammoth being capable of delivering brutal deaths to characters, we care about. The buildup to introducing this character and the initial encounters are exceptionally well-designed and impactful. However, as the film progresses, this character becomes somewhat repetitive and too bizarre to be taken seriously, especially in the climax. This is my only major issue with the film.
Final Words:
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“Exhuma” succeeds in delivering a gripping and immersive horror experience, driven by fantastic performances, innovative scares, and a genuinely creepy atmosphere. While the film excels in keeping audiences on the edge of their seats for the majority of its runtime, it slightly falters towards the end with the repetitive and somewhat outlandish portrayal of its prehistoric evil antagonist. Nevertheless, the film’s strengths far outweigh its weaknesses, offering a fresh and engaging take on the horror genre. With its layered storytelling, captivating performances, and inventive scares, “Exhuma” is a must-watch for fans of supernatural horror and Korean cinema alike.
The film successfully weaves together a tale that draws inspiration and plot points from Korean history, its conflicts with Japan, the occult, Korean folklore, and especially the rituals and science of the occult, exorcism, feng shui, etc. Incorporating all these elements into a coherent story that appears artistic and moody, while delivering some of the best scares seen in recent times, was a mammoth task. Jang Jae-hyun pulled off this feat with aplomb.
Rating: 3.5/5 (3.5 out of 5 Stars)
The views expressed in this article are that of the reviewer and do not reflect EastMojo’s position.
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