Story: A shaman and a geomancer join forces to break the curse of a Korean-American family. The film illustrates the grave events that happen after the family grave found on the mountain is dug up.
Exhuma is a film whose aftertaste is equally powerful as its incredulous plot and its production value. It is not a bone chilling horror but not overly terrifying either. The movie does maintain a creepy façade throughout and the horror elements are subtle. It has an underlying suspense all throughout the film keeping you guessing and interested. Blending together spirituality, paranormal activity and Korean-Japanese history , Exhuma is fascinating occult horror and is definitely recommended to try out.
The narrative starts with a shaman, Hwarim (Kim Go-eun), and Bong Gil (Lee Do-hyun) being summoned by Park Ji Yong (Kim Jae-cheol), a rich Korean-American, to aid with the mysterious illness of his son. When Hwarim arrives, she realizes that there is an evil curse that has afflicted the family for generations. To solve the problem, she contacts Kim Sang Deok (Choi Min-sik), a geomancer, Feng Shui master, and his apprentice Ko Young Geun (Yoo Hae-jin). Collectively, they decide to break the curse by digging up the body of the head of the family which rests in a coffin on a mountaintop grave at the border of North and South Korea. As the story progresses, the characters face a chain of extraordinary events that challenge the boundary between the real world and the world of magic.
Watching “Exhuma” is an experience in itself. With every scene comes a multitude of details which connect to the main narrative. The film is divided into chapters which manage to sustain one’s curiosity with mystery and horror. Cumulatively, the film achieves to be genuinely scary and is award winning as far as horror films go. The movie has its exceeded share of climax which does not allow the viewers to let their guard down even for a second. With a rather longer runtime, the film lets viewers enjoy the story as it is revealed in front of them.
Choi Mon-sik’s performance of Kim Sang Deok is worth mentioning. Hereien Traditions of Spirit Medium, he is stupendous while performing geomancy and Feng Shui for families where he locates its participants’ death places. He does an amazing job in this occult horror masterpiece. The omens are casted, the feng shui spirits and the shamanistic narratives lends it a captivating texture that stands apart from ordinary horror films. The directing of Jang Jae Hyun and cinematography by Lee Mo-gae has heightened the experience. The movie stands alone in its success because of its passionate narrative. And as the result, it’s very enjoyable for the viewers.
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