Choi Min Shik, Kim Go Eun, Lee Do Hyun, and Yoo Hae Jin's "Exhuma" to be Released Next Month

On January 17th, a press conference was held for the upcoming mystery Korean movie Exhuma, which stars Choi Min Shik, Kim Go Eun, Yoo Hae Jin, and Lee Do Hyun. 

The press conference was attended by director Jang Jae Hyun, and actors Kim Go Eun, Choi Min Shik, and Yoo Hae Jin. 

Scheduled for release next month, Exhuma is a film that depicts a family living abroad experiencing mysterious events that put the newborn of the family in grave danger. They seek help from the shaman duo Hwa Rim (Kim Go Eun) and Bong Gil (Lee Do Hyun), who discovers that something sinister has attached itself to the family. 

To get rid of the evil entity, the duo asks for help from the veteran geomancer Sang Deok (Choi Min Shik) and mortician Yeong Geun (Yoo Hae Jin). The group performs an exhumation which unleashes a malevolent force. 

Choi Min Shik plays the role of Kim Sang Deok, a veteran geomancer with 40 years of experience.

 He stated, "I usually don't like horror films."  and "I decided to participate because I trust the director," revealing the reason behind his decision to join the cast.

Kim Go Eun plays the role of Hwa Rim, a shaman who appeases vengeful spirits. 

The actress said that her close friend Park Jung Min, played a significant role in making the casting happen.

The actress recalls, "Park Jung Min called me and asked me to take a look at the script of Exhuma. He said that the director really wanted me [for the role of Hwa Rim] and that he had told me in advance because he was afraid I would reject it."

In the process of preparing for the film, Kim Go Eun had an actual shaman as her teacher and learned the process of exorcism, including gestures, dance moves, and facial expressions.

She said that she went to the shaman's house, ate with him, and devoted herself to practice. She commented, "I had a strong compulsion to look professional in all my actions, including reciting sutras, performing [exorcism], and hitting the gong."

Choi Min Shik emphasized that Kim Go Eun's scene of performing exorcism is the highlight of Exhuma. He said, "When I saw Kim Go Eun's acting, I couldn't help but say 'wow.'" "I was worried about Kim Go Eun. I thought, 'Will she not end up doing two jobs? Will she lay out the ritual mat?' I hoped she wouldn't leave the movie," he joked.

Yoo Hae Jin, who plays the role of mortician Ko Young Geun, praised Kim Go Eun's performance, saying, "[If it were me,] I wouldn't be able to pull it off."

It is also said that Yoo Hae Jin learned how to collect the remains of the dead to accurately portray his role.

He explained, "In the film, Yeong Geun is the best mortician, so much so that he was in charge of the president's funeral. I thought a lot about how to make it not look awkward."

Lee Do Hyun, making his big-screen debut with Exhuma, couldn't attend the press conference as he is currently in military service. He plays the role of Bong Gil, an MZ-generation shaman who has both skill and looks.

What's also interesting to know is that Exhuma almost entirely avoided using computer graphics (CG).

Director Jang remarked, "I filmed it thinking it was a realistic fantasy rather than occult. I didn't rely on the power of CG, and I had the actors to be shown and act in reality (on set) rather than on a blue screen. That's by courtesy of the actors."

Exhuma will be released in February. Watch the movie's trailer 

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