[Korean Film Critic] The trusty Korean occult, <Exhuma>
※This article was contributed to 'Sbs Premium'.
↑ still photo of <Exhuma>
Recently, a strange movie has been attracting attention in theaters of Korea. It's a Korean-style occult movie called Exhuma. It is cruising with about 3 million audience. The movie's popularity is a welcome return to the spotlight for Korean cinema after a recent lull.
Jang Jae-hyun, who directed the film, has a strong background in the occult. His debut feature <The Black Priests>(2015) and his previous film <Sabaha>(2019) are both in the same genre. The same goes for his 2014 short film <The 12th Assistant Priest>. When Black Priests first came out, I thought it was a simple trial. But Jang proved otherwise with a series of works. Regardless of how his films look, he's a director to watch for his consistency in following a narrow path.
The most interesting thing about Jang is that he has no interest in anything other than the occult. Once a director gains a certain amount of attention, he starts to make choices in his movies that are based on 'popularity' and 'box office'. The director is faced with the dilemma of being noticed for his own color, but losing it. But Jang Jae-hyun has none of that. His movies are simply occult from start to finish. There's no compromise, like, "Let's freshen things up, because some people might get tired of this" It seems foolish. But it's interesting and reliable.
↑ still photo of <The Black Priests>
Jang Jae-hyun's filmography is surprising. He's used more star actors than you'd expect. Kang Dong-won and Kim Yoon-sik in <The Black Priests>, Lee Jung-jae and Park Jung-min in <Sabaha>, and Choi Min-sik, Kim Go-eun, Yoo Hae-jin, and Lee Do-hyun in <Exhuma>. They are all strong and unique, but strangely enough, they blend into the movie once it starts (even if they are the center of attention during the promotional phase). Their presence doesn't stand out, but is absorbed into the movie.
Jang Jae-hyun doesn't even seem willing to capitalize on their star power. His nonchalant attitude is surprising. With Kang Dong-won, Lee Jung-jae, and Kim Go-eun in front of him, it's not easy to make this choice. But this is also a new opportunity for stars, and Kang Dong-won in <Black Priests> is a good example. In the past, movies starring Kang Dong-won have been so into his beautiful face. As a result, the movie was not interesting. But in <The Black Priests>, Kang Dong-won is a priest with a pale face, inexperienced, but straightforward conviction. Jang Jae-hyun's nonchalant attitude towards him, seeing even a handsome actor as one of the pawns in his occult world, was an opportunity for Kang Dong-won. Stars grow into actors through such rare opportunities.
↑ still photo of <Exhuma>
It was Kim Go-eun who seized the opportunity in <Exhuma>. It's a personal opinion, but for me, Kim Go-eun's image as a star was based on her feminine and pure image in <Eun-gyo>(2012). Of course, her acting skills are outstanding, and she's a diligent actress who works in a variety of films. However, the roles she has taken on have branched out from her pure image. They feel somewhat similar. Characters who are melodramatic protagonists(<Yumi's Cells>, <Goblin>), who desperately confront powerful beings(<Hero>, <Monster>), or who follow women who are bigger than her(<Adolescent Grandmother>, <Chinatown>) share Kim's characteristic feminine, lovable, and flirtatious feelings.
But she has changed. The shaman Hwa-rim, whom Kim plays in <Exhuma>, is different from the characters she has played in the past. She's not young, she's not girly, and she's not lovely. Hwa-rim is professional, snobbish, and serious. Words like 'charismatic' and 'talented' naturally come to mind when we see her. Of course, Kim Go-eun's other characters have their moments of sass and sassiness, but they're few and far between. Hwa-rim is a professional shaman who loves her job, worries about it at times, and cares about the people around her. It's a new character and a leap forward in Kim's filmography. Jang Jae-hyun deserves a lot of credit for making this possible.
Of course, <Exhuma> is not flawless. As many have pointed out, the story is weak. The special effects in the second half of the movie are not of a high standard, breaking the immersion. The spirit of sacrifice that appears out of nowhere is also a bit out of place. However, by the end of the story, it's the righteousness of solving the problem with the rules of the occult world that stands out, without appealing to cheap sentimentality. This is also the impression that runs through Jang's filmography. I would like to look forward to Jang Jae-hyun walking his straight path.
☆ Original article : https://premium.sbs.co.kr/article/PNTbV91wRpq
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