[HanCinema's News] Jang Jae-hyeon Makes Long Awaited Return With "Exhuma"

Director Jang Jae-hyeon is a recent master of South Korean occult horror. "The Priests" in 2015 was a surprise hit in his debut as lead director/screenwriter, the horror film about an exorcism wowing local audiences to over five million admissions despite the relatively straightforward Catholic premise. Jang Jae-hyeon followed this up with "Svaha: The Sixth Finger" in 2019, a more convolutedly Buddhist themed that had less than half its predecessor's admissions but still found a cult audience.

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Now, four years later, Jang Jae-hyeon returns with "Exhuma" which deals in shamanism. As the market has changed since Jang Jae-hyeon's first two films, so too has the apparent target audience. The theatrical poster for "Exhuma" proudly features the icon of the Berlin International Film Festival, emphasizing the artistic rigours of the concept rather than the more crowd-pleasing horror. Choi Min-sik as a master geomancer takes on prominence in the theatrical poster.

Rising star Lee Do-hyun is not so greatly featured, but "Exhuma" nevertheless presents a big opportunity for him to feature in more serious roles rather than as an often more boyish looking handsome leading man. Other big names like Kim Go-eun and Yoo Hae-jin also point to "Exhuma" as being more of a prestige style horror film. Jang Jae-hyeon's emphasis and implication of deep mythology has long been more significant to his work's enduring popularity than jump scares.

But there's still some pressure on "Exhuma" in the South Korean box office's current sink or swim . With "12.12: The Day" hitting record numbers and "Alienoid: Return to the Future" continuing its prequels slump, "Exhuma" could easily land anywhere in between. Whatever its success, however, "Exhuma" is almost certain to be a hit with its target audience. And with the three major Korean religions represented, the question will be begged what angle Jang Jae-hyeon will go for next.

Written by William Schwartz

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"Exhuma" is directed by Jang Jae-hyeon, and features Choi Min-sik, Kim Go-eun, Yoo Hae-jin, Lee Do-hyun, Jeon Jin-ki, Hong Seo-jun. Release date in Korea: 2024/02/22.