Exhuma (2024)

A complex story trying to be scary

I didn't want to write a review cause I didn't understand the backstory very well and it took me a comment and three days to sequence all of it together. Nevertheless, I have to address the lost potential of this movie.
This movie is good. It's not a jumpscare kinda movie nor a liver-dropping but a layer-by-layer gore story. What initially starts as a grave awakening eventually escalates into a country-dividing curse-breaking ceremony. But saying the movie is one of the best horror movies is far-fetched cause honestly speaking it wasn't scary. As I explained, it was a detailed movie with intricate layers. Writing a complex story is a gamble because ppl need to understand for the fear to kick in but if the story is too complex and ppl don't understand, what's the point?? And I feel a lot of people who have horror as a main genre would agree with me.
In other words, think of this movie as a thesis. To the ppl who have read a lot of theses on this particular subject don't think this is any special but to others, it's written so that it makes it interesting.
The cast was the hype. I mean, LDH with tattoos, man, he can be the plot and KGE with those eyes. Yup, it was hyped. But honestly speaking, that's good for the movie. The other actors, I have seen rarely, but they slayed. Especially, scenes of doubt.
The music was the true hero. The BGM that ensued the creepy and eery feeling and the color contrast of places. Real nice.
Overall good movie for beginners. But needs to game up to the pros.

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definitely deserves a watch

this movie is a 10/10 for those who already know cultural elements related to shamanism and all about Korea and also the war history between Japan trying to colonise Korea and society during ww2 .
but this is gonna confuse the heck Outta ppl who don't hv interest in folklores and traditional values of any culture.
For me it was 10/10.. the careful merging of a families grief with an element of horror but more with the feels of those similar war stories I used to hear from my dad when I was small. Overall the whole movie kinda absorbs u in leaving you feel enchanted in some ways.

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This movie isn’t for everyone… but it’s definitely for me.

To start off this review: if you don’t like films like Jordan Peele’s cinematic universe, Hereditary, or most of the films (esp horror films) coming out of A24 or other indie movie distributors, then this movie is definitely not for you.

This film takes a lot of artistic liberty, and presents itself as a arthouse film, and I definitely think it deserves that presentation. It feeds off of mainly showing and not telling the audience and is very lax with the pace it uses.

If you’re not familiar with shamanism and other indigenous Korean rituals, then this movie is also definitely not for you. I think if you’re also used to the more romanticized version of shamans that a lot of Kdramas have will not prepare you to the actual intesnity of some of the means they use (i.e. the pigs, slitting the throat of a chicken, dousing things in horse blood) and the way it is presented for the audience. There is gore and violence in this film, it reeks of death and mourning, and if you were expecting a less intense story of shamans (like The Matchmakers) then this film will shock you and make you uncomfortable. Those with a weak stomach should probably avoid this film since there is a lot of bodily harm, throwing up blood, and just in general a lot of blood.

Now that’s out of the way, I’m gonna talk wayyyyyy too much about how I love this film. If you’re autistic like me and like hearing endings, keep reading if you’re comfy, if you’re not I hope you have a good day!!

Exhuma is a perfect storyteller for the lives of all of the members of this ragtag group of traditional practitioners. (Maybe it’s my adolescent interest in Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service that made me excited to see a different type of indigenous mythology even if some of it is based on the same scripture.)

The film starts really slow, and I think it’s a perfect way to play out how all of the four main characters are connected to each other. Instead of just telling their relationship, especially between Hwarim and Bonggil to Sangdeok and Younggeun, as they are quite different people, it shows how they have a work relationship that is still friendly. Also their personalities are well displayed; Hwarim being someone who hides behind confidence and her own abilities, Bonggil as someone who may seem very servile but is quite brave, Sangdeok cares deeply about his family even if he doesn’t like that his daughter is marrying a German man (also he is a boomer I hope this helps explain so many things), and Yeonggeun is a very frugal undertaker who is quite cowardly unless in the face of money.

I think the family drama of the Park family is so good, even if for a bit you’re confused who is who in the family. (Since the film is through the lens of the group, it makes sense that we are only privy to a tiny bit of information about them.) There is an air of holding their breath about the grave of the patriarch’s great grandfather, and it had me guessing until the final reveal that he was a fascist who followed that Japanese annexation of Korea. It’s such a perfect blend of history, and of the fact a lot of rich people hide the atrocities of their ancestors. (But also the ghost wanting to take all of his children with him is so good when you realize he is angry that they left Korea for America.)

Also, the detail of a Japanese monk being the one to give him a burial, which was auspicious to him but terrible in Korean geomancy, is literally the icing on the cake. Though, after this the movie takes a very dark turn, and I think it still fits with the storyline especially when the reveal of the monk’s true identity, and Sangdeok finding out that the “grave robbers” were just geomancers.

The supernatural aspects genuinely interested me even if they weren’t really meant to be scary. It shifts the tone to more emotional, sentimental in the way we view these characters.

We see the biggest changes in Hwarim and Seongdeok, because the anima drastically changes the tone of the double internment. Bonggil getting hurt after trying to distract it and protect her, shakes her very deeply. When he is in the hospital she gets desperate, her confidence is gone and she stays by his side trying to bring him back. She takes risks that could kill all of them just to get him free from the anima, and feels terrible when Seongdeok gets hurt in the final battle.

Seongdeok gets obsessed with the plot and finding out what’s so wrong with it. He visits it multiple times in an attempt to figure out what he’s missing. The unknown draws him in and eventually gets him hurt, and he accepts death, until he realizes he wouldn’t get to see his daughter’s wedding.

I’m leaving so much out because I want whoever is reading this to find joy in some of the things I left out, hehe. Though, the ending is happy, and I’ve seen people confused by it and I wanted to say I think the ending was nice. It reminded me sort of like the ending of Extracurricular, in which it is left vague because they are marred by the experiences, but life goes on.

I also think that Lee Dohyun still playing one of the most normal characters but still being given his usual insanity was so good. This man goes 0-100 in five seconds and it’s why I love him. Great madman, will miss him dearly until he comes back from his compulsary service.

Damn this got long, I just love this movie a lot. Thank you anyone who reads this absolute essay of a review. I am mentally ill and love me some sad happy shit.

(edit: I also forgot to mention that there isn’t a “romance” plot but there is an obvious connection between Hwarim and Bonggil that I just refer to them as soulmates instead. They are each other’s confidence, and safety. They live together and have known each other since they were teens, they care very deeply about each other and I don’t think we need to label it.)

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what a good surprise

estou levemente impactado com este daqui. não estava esperando metade do que ele foi, fui assitir despretensiosamente e sai surpreso com a qualidade que ele entrega.

eu acho muito interessante acompanhar religião/mitologia ser tratado em filmes pois é sempre 8 ou 80 e aqui é um 80! eu achei de uma certa forma fascinante os elementos que são apresentados aqui, o modo como alguns rituais são feitos, artefatos que são apresentados e toda relação dos personagens com esses elementos. não é o tipo de terror que te assusta mas te faz aproveitar todo o tempo de duração

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You won't want to do anything else until you finish watching it.

• CINEMATOGRAPHY
This is one of the main points here, The cinematography was so beautiful and fabulous. I liked all the scenes and point of views, and everything.

• MUSIC
The music was on point for eveything, from the drumming for the exorcism to every intense moment, and then scary horrifying sound effects from time to time, it was perfect.

• STORY
The story was so good too. Showing about the history etc. And the movie's about Exorcism, Shamanism, Feng Shui, Buddhism and Christian too if you look at it. I didn't even know it before that a job of Geomancer exists. He tastes the soil and identify about the land. I got so immersed in it. The four characters work together their roles are different but they make a team and work together.
At first there was a family case, in which their grandfather's coffin ⚰️ was opened and he went on to a bloody killing streak of his descendants.
Then another a more bloodthirsty monster case came to light, but this is just my opinion that, in the end that (lord) died too easily, like it didn't fight back (well he was shown undefeatable). The ending was good, but just a doubt he died too easily.

• CASTING
The casting was perfect each actor was perfect. Kim Go Eun's performance was fabulous, her acting was so good and all other actors. I totally loved them.

I recommend this movie, 10/10.
Just that nothing else, Have a great day ahead.

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Folklore occult horror that shouldn't be missed

Exhuma is an enthralling, unique exploration of intergenerational curses, national history, and spectral hauntings. Kim Go-eun easily carries the dramatic load and Choi Min-sik gives his role a grizzled, weary authority. The journey moves viewers from the ghostly to the monstrous with meaning and history behind the horror, and while there are thought-provoking elements at play here there’s also a desire to deliver big, creepy, gory, beautiful thrills. The inclusion of rituals and ceremonies with historical influences craft a tangible world the story exists in, not necessarily adding undeniable plausibility, but certainly introducing disturbing situations steeped in beliefs and tradition.

My Rating : 8/10

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Overhyped movie?

This movie is good, one of the overhyped movie this year it considered as one of the top grossing movie this year maybe because of the castibg. I don't understand why it is talked about its not one of the best thrilling movies that I saw its just a typical ritual movie the story is very common.
The movie is not that bad its just a common story not that scary at all. The casting is great, they got the best actors in this film and they really did their best. The cinematography is great they got the best shots. It was nicely done.
Kim go Eun did a great job, she really nailed as a shaman, she really did the shaman chant excellently. I really love his acting here.
Lee Do Hyun is really given that his a good actor but he also did his exceptional acting skills in this film. But what caught my attention is that he looks hotter in this film.
Overall the movie is great and common, not worhy for an award.

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