Exhuma (2024)

• Year: 2024
• Released: 22 Feb 2024
• Country: South Korea
• Adwords: 5 nominations
• IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27802490/
• Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/exhuma
• Metacritics:
• Available in: 720p, 1080p, 1080p
• Language: Korean
• MPA Rating: N/A
• Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
• Runtime: 134 min
• Writer: Jae-hyun Jang
• Director: Jae-hyun Jang
• Cast: Choi Min-sik, Kim Go-eun, Lee Do-hyun
• Keywords: ritual, coffin, exorcism, grave, shaman, undertaker,

	7.2/10
	93% – Critics
	false% – Audience

Exhuma Storyline

Renowned Korean shaman and her protégé, Hwa-rim (Kim Go-eun) and Bong-gil (Lee Do-hyun) are enlisted by a wealthy Korean American family to identify the mysterious illness of the family’s newborn son. Hwa-rim uncovers the curse to be a ‘Grave’s Call’, a vengeful ancestor’s spirit haunting them. The family’s patriarch, Park Ji-Yong, entrust them to relocate the grave to appease the ancestor, his grandfather. Hwa-rim enlists colleagues, a Feng shui master Kim Sang-deok (Choi Min-sik) and a mortician Yeong-geun (Yoo Hae-jin).Sang-deok specializes in selling burial locations for the wealthy, while Yeong-geun owns a funeral home. During their first encounter with Ji-yong, Sang-deok becomes wary when Ji-yong insists on cremating the grave, which is located in a remote mountain near the North Korean border. Sang-deok backs out, sensing a sinister energy. However, Hwa-rim convinces them that she can perform rituals while the grave is being dug to avoid the curse. Ji-yong tells them about a famous monk named ‘Gisune,’ who provided the grave location for his grandfather.Hwa-rim and Bong-gil perform the ritual, and the excavation proceeds smoothly. One of the grave-diggers severs the head of a human-headed snake, which triggers a bad omen. Yeong-geun insists on cremating the coffin once the rain stops so they store it at a nearby ward. The local custodian opens the coffin and releases the vengeful entity inside, Ji-yong’s grandfather. The entity targets his bloodline, killing Ji-yong’s parents and Ji-yong himself. The grandfather is revealed to be a Japanese loyalist during the Korean occupation era. Before he can reach the newborn baby, Sang-deok cremates the coffin, abolishing the curse.Months later, Yeong-geun informs Sang-deok about the disturbed gravedigger who killed a snake. He revisits the cursed gravesite and discovers the head of an ‘onna’ along with a double burial site for a seven-footed standing coffin. He enlists Hwa-rim, Bong-gil, and Yeong-geun to dispose of the coffin. The four excavate it and rest at a temple, where Hwa-rim learns about Gisune Monk, who is Japanese. That night, Bong-gil witnesses a seven-foot figure obliterating a human and pigs. They find the coffin ripped from the inside. Bong-gil gets possessed and the other three witness the creature turn into a ball of fire and fly back to the mountain. The four are taken to a hospital and Bong-gil recovers after surgery.Hwa-rim investigates the creature’s origin through the possessed Bong-gil. Sang-deok returns to the grave and finds the creature dormant on the coordinates written on the tombstone. He discovers that the grave’s robbers were Korean patriots attempting to unearth a metal pole as part of a Japanese military conquest in Korea. Sang-deok, Hwa-rim, and Yeong-geun devise to unearth the pole when the creature rises after midnight. Hwa-rim will distract the shogun while the others dig. A vision reveals Monk Kitsune embedding a katana inside a decapitated samurai’s body, turning the samurai into a ghoul, with Ji-yong’s grandfather’s grave serving as a cover for the relic. Sang-deok realizes the pole is a sword embedded in the creature’s body. Using the Korean patriots’ wooden tool and blood, he slays the creature based on his elemental knowledge and regains consciousness with the others by his bedside. The four later attend Sang-deok’s daughter’s wedding.

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Exhuma Movie Reviews

an extremely well-crafted and ambitious horror film that has an uniquely korean historical/mythic DNA at its core.

Disturbing, eerie, and tense, the first half of Exhuma is an explosive mixture of south korean folklore and mythicism. It effectively evokes the universal dread and mystery regarding the afterlife, and what we, people still living and walking on this earth, can and should do with regards to that. The spiritual and supernatural bridge dangling between the two worlds. It works excellently as a paranormal occult horror film. Great atmosphere, never looses the steam, with fairly memorable moments.

But then it reaches the mid point of the film, something happens that made me not exactly sure about how I feel about this film as whole. To be clear: I still did like it a lot and it is nonetheless a strong film, but the aforementioned uneasiness and tension quickly goes away, and never quite reaches the same high as the previous half. It is a reveal/decision that I do appreciate: it is ambitious, creative, and is a big swing that we do not often see in a south Korean film. Also helps that practical effects accompanying it are simply amazing. However, the tonal shift/jarring nature of it kinda turned me off. I do recommend going into the film completely blind!

Kinda torn between 3.5 and 4 stars. It the film carried the strengths of the first two acts to the third act, and kept the film more consistent, it easily would’ve been4 stars and maybe 4.5. Again, still a great film and I highly recommend this to anyone interested in horror films with uniquely korean/asian DNA embedded to it.

Korean Horror Delves into the history of the Japanese occupation

“Exhuma” emerges as a bold tapestry of horror, weaving together an array of tropes that challenge the boundaries of the genre. Its narrative is a complex interplay of classic horror elements, grave digging, psychological twists, demon hunting, and unexpected comedy, creating a cinematic experience that is as unsettling as it is innovative. The overlay of the history of the Japanese occupation adds a layer of moral complexity. While some cultural symbolism may be lost on international audiences, the film’s deliberate pacing cultivates a tension that transcends cultural barriers, culminating in a climax that is both disorienting and impactful. “Exhuma” may not prioritize narrative clarity, but it compensates with a visceral journey through the macabre, leaving viewers with a lingering sense of unease and contemplation long after the credits roll. The film’s commitment to a slow-burn approach rewards patient viewers with a thought-provoking exploration of horror that refuses to be confined by conventional expectations.

The hype works at its best

True. In my country the ticket has gone up unreasonably. Reviews came from movie goers even experts e.g directors make this film as a must see not only for horror lovers but also korean movie lovers. Yes. The hype. Now does it worth it? My answer is no.

Actors are well known. The shaman lady supposed hold the major key to scare spectators. Kim Go Eun should have learnt from Vera Vermiga portraying the famous psychich Lorraine Warren. People have no idea how was Lorraine Warren in real. But Vermiga shows no matter her extra capability and expertise, she’s never in fine mood during scanning or experiencing any paranormal activity.

And when eventually the evil is a giant samurai is somehow outrageous. Never described how that’s possible. I am sensing classic Hollywood horror which exploiting unexplained creatures. Not stopping there, the giant samurai could alter into huge fireball. Ouch!

So I was so curious, because viewers comparing it with The Wailing, then I’m disappointed. Indeed The Wailing is a must see, way better plot and end in one horrific scene. Many other must see Korean thriller/horror movies are: The Call and The Forgotten.

Anyway my appreciation is on the script, connecting the history of Peninsula. Other thing to give a thumb up is the cinematography.