Jeri Jacquin
Coming to Bluray from
writer/director Jang Jae-hyun and Well Go USA is the story of the supernatural
and secrets with EXHUMA.
Korean Shaman Lee Hwa-rim
(Kim Go-eun) and Yoon Bong-gil (Lee Do-hyun) have come to help a
Korean-American family led by Park Ji-Yong (Kim Jae-cheol) with an illness that
can’t be explained around their newborn son. Spending time with the boy,
Hwa-rim discovers that a ‘Grave’s Call’ in on the entire family and it is
coming from Ji-Yong’s grandfather. Deciding it is best to relocate the grave
for the sake of the ancestor, Haw-rim knows she needs the help of Feng Shui
master Kim Sang-deok (Cho Min-sik) and mortician Yeong-geun (Yoo Hae-jin).
Sang-deok’s career is
finding burial locations for family members and Yeong-geun runs the funeral
home. Almost immediately, Sang-Deok is unsettled by Ji-Yong’s request for
cremation and does not want anything to do with the patriarch’s wishes. But he
is persuaded by the money being offered which would help him with his daughter’s
wedding. Still leery, Hwa-rim lets him know that a ritual can be done at the
gravesite to keep clear of any curse. Thinking everything went well during the
ceremony, one of the men helping to handle the gravesite is startled by a snake
– and that’s when things begin to go horribly wrong.
Something is unleashed
and it is something that can not be seen right away but it is going after Ji-young
and his family. That is when Sang-deok decides that the coffin of the
grandfather must immediately be cremated. Thinking things would get better,
some time goes by and Sang-deok visits the grave helper and realizes that there
is more to the gravesite. Hwa-rim, Bong-gil and Yeong-geun go back with him to
look further and discover that there is something deeper in the ground. They
learn that a Japanese shaman named Murayama Junji has a history and it is dark
and evil.
Now, they all must do
whatever is necessary to try and save Ji-young’s newborn and Bong-gil who is
connected to Murayama Junji is the evillest of ways.
Cho Min-sik as Sang-deok
is a man who takes his career seriously helping families to find proper burial
places for their loved ones. Being invited by Lee Hwa-rim to help him
understand what is happening with the Ji-Yong family is welcomed, especially financially.
Min-sik portrays his character as a man who knows there is something more than
a relocation of a grandfather. His performance kept me going further and
further into the story.
Kim Go-eun as Lee Hwa-rim
is a young woman with a gift. She understands that her life is mixed in a world
that most people can not see nor understand yet, Hwa-rim knows there are those
who need her. When she is asked to visit Ji-Yong’s newborn son to discover what
is ailing him, she recognizes early what it is and calls out for reinforcements
to handle it. Go-eun is amazing in her role and the moments of terror, her
expressions are classic horror film.
Lee Do-hyun as Yoon
Bong-gil is consistently at Hwa-rim’s side and part of the ceremony’s she must
perform. He knows what needs to happen and follows her every step until he
becomes part of the horror himself. Do-hyun gets the fun of being part of what
is causing the evil and does it so well. Yoo Hae-jin as Yeong-geun is trying to
keep the funeral business paying and when he receives a call from Hwa-rim, he
also understands that whatever she is dealing with, it is going to need a quick
response. He is Sang-deok’s sidekick and offers a bit of humor along the way. Kim
Jae-cheol as Park Ji-Yong isn’t sure if he believes what Hwa-rim is telling him
but knows that something has to be done, especially since he is on grandfather’s
list it seems. Can’t blame a guy for wanting to do whatever is possible to save
his family.
Other cast include Yeong-ran
Lee as Bae Jeon-ja, Kim tae-joon as Chang-min, Jung Yun-Ha as Ji-yong’s wife,
Jeong-ja Park as Ji-yong’s aunt, Hong Seo-jun as President Kim, Seol Chang-hee
as the son-in-law and Lee Jong-goo as Bodhisattva.
Well Go USA Entertainment
is a theatrical and home entertainment company specializing in bringing the
best Action, Genre and Independent films from around the world to North
American markets. As a leader in independent film distribution, Well Go USA
Entertainment’s titles can be seen across a variety of platforms including
theatrical, digital, subscription and cable VOD, packaged media and broadcast
television. Well Go USA Entertainment currently releases three to five films
per month. To see more please visit www.wellgousa.com.
Bonus Features includes
the Making of EXHUMA and trailer.
EXHUMA runs 135 minutes
in total but let me tell you, it is worth every moment. I happen to enjoy well
done story telling and am willing to invest the time on a good one. This film
takes it step by step and just when you think things are wrapping up – nope!
There are so many levels to this story and it is done so very, very well. The cast
is stunning in their portrayals to the point that I was with them every step of
the way without even realizing it. There were moments I actually stopped moving
and didn’t realize that either. That’s the sign of an awesome thriller.
The cinematography is
beautiful as the story focuses on the five main characters and scenes deep in
the woods. The special effects are so cool! I don’t need a ton of gore to get
invested in a tale of thrills and EXHUMA uses the effects in the best way
possible and it looks amazing. If you are not a fan of subtitles as the film is
in Korean, watching it in the English setting does not take away anything from
the film, it’s equally as exciting and full of edge-of-your-seat moments.
So, turn out the lights
and cuddle up with blankets on the sofa because EXHUMA might have you pulling
that blanket up to your eyes. Director Jang Jae-hyun gives us a
thrill of a supernatural kind!
In the end – the vicious
emerges!
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