Exhuma - An intense jaw-dropping Korean horror
I just finished watching a movie I started sometime around June last year. I started the movie and ended it few minutes in, because I wasn't really feeling it. It wasn't until one of my colleague watched it from my laptop, and couldn't stop talking about how interesting he found it, did I make a move to watch it. I watched Exhuma and all I could do after watching it was to keep reminding myself to breathe. Afterall, it was just a movie.
I didn't plan reviewing a movie today but when I watched this, I had to choose a movie review because if I left it for another day, I might not be able to describe the exact emotions I felt while watching it, like I believe I'd do right now. So, let's get on with it.
Exhuma is a 2024 Korean horror movie starring Kim Go Eun, Lee do hyun, Choi Min-sik and Yoo Hae-jin. When Hwarim (Kim Go Eun), a shaman is called upon by a family, to determine the cause of an illness, she traces it to one of the family's ancient gravesite, one of a vengeful spirit. They successfully excavate the corpse and although they experience things which are not supposed to be, they carry on with the excavation and then cremation. But in the process of cremation, a mistake is made and the vengeful spirit is unleashed. Although they were able to salvage the situation, this spells the beginning of trouble, pain and everything they never expected.
Frankly, what led me to downloading this movie, was the fact that Kim Go Eun and Lee Do Hyun starred in it. I had just watched Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, and enjoyed her acting in that drama, so I looked forward to her role as a shaman here. So, When I saw they both starred here, I counted down to the release date and downloaded it. From here, I'm sure you know the story - I got bored and someone watched it, and all I said above.
The actors that drew me to this movie, did not disappoint and it pleased me a lot. The movie was really slow paced and I think that was what made me bored initially. Kim Go Eun was so good at her role as a shaman. She wasn't the regular type of shaman I am used to in kdramas - those who are trying to fit comedy into spirituality. Her personality was dark and cool. I loved seeing her go full on shaman, with the bells, the spiritual dances and everything. She was fun to watch.
Lee Do Hyun, playing the role of Bong-gil, Hwarim's protege. He was my favourite character and to me, bodied his role, the best. When he was possessed and when he was just Hwarim's assistant, I looked for traces of the cute actor who appeared so harmless in the other movies I'd watched. The jaw shifts, the eye rolls, the piercing stares when possessed, I enjoyed seeing him act everything. The other actors also did well with their roles, I forgot for a minute it was just a movie. So yes, I enjoyed the acting. Each of these actors devoured their roles.
Now, to my favourite - The plot. It's a slow paced movie and when I finally got to the intense part, I couldn't take my eyes away from my screen. It started with unleashing one spirit, and I thought that I had all seen all there was to our villain but no. That was just the beginning. More things happened. Things that were mind-blowing. I knew Koreans were good at what they did but I can't remember watching any Korean horror that gripped me the way this one did.
This movie elicited the question 'How was it that they valued the land so much, they were all willing to give up their lives?' Because you see, if I find myself in a situation like that, rest assured I'm leaving the land to whatever inhabits it. These people took risks, prodded spiritual forces, traumatized and harmed themselves, all for what? The possibility of them dying there was almost second to none.
And for the ending, what in the name of endings was that? Why was it so perfect? The ending of this movie left me reeling and that was why I said I needed to remind myself to breathe, while the credits rolled. I was so engrossed in the plot, and with how everything panned out, I'll rate this movie an 8.5 out of 10.
Apart from it's slow pacing, I didn't detest a thing. Everything was just right. I'll recommend this movie to horror movie lovers. If you're a fan, do check this one out. You might find it enjoyable because I did.
Thanks for Reading.