‘Exhuma’ REVIEW: Dig up the past and unleash the horror
‘Exhuma’ REVIEW: Dig up the past and unleash the horror
South Korean filmmaker Jang Jae-hyun, known for directing supernatural films, returns with the supernatural horror Exhuma. Plagued by malevolent forces, a Korean-American family in Los Angeles seeks help from two young shamans, Hwa-rim, played by Kim Go-eun (A Muse), and Bong-gil, played by Lee Do-hyun (Sweet Home, The Glory). Eventually, the two aren’t able to handle it on their own, as it is revealed that the powerful spirit of an evil ancestor looms over the family through “grave calling.”
Enter Kim Sang-deok, a geomancer played by Choi Min-sik (Oldboy, I Saw the Devil, Lady Vengeance), and Yeong-geun, an undertaker played by Yoo Hae-jin (Confidential Assignment). As the film’s title suggests, they perform an exhumation, relocating the grave to make peace with Park Ji-yong, played by Kim Jae-chul (The King’s Affection), and his family’s ancestor. Little do they know, there is more to them than meets the eye.
As far as supernatural films go, Exhuma is right on the playing field, featuring spirits body-hopping and using people as their vessels into the land of the living. Additionally, the film showcases culture, traditions, and beliefs particularly well. Sequences that feature the shaman rituals are when the film is at its peak, with quick-paced editing to let us feel the intensity and thrill of what lies ahead. Even if we compare Exhuma to films from the West that involve possessions and exorcisms, notably The Exorcist and The Conjuring, this film features heavily on Eastern flair.
It’s apparent that Exhuma may draw comparisons with fellow South Korean horror, The Wailing—which would be a great double feature, by the way. Though Exhuma digs up the predictable, it unearths something more, with the story’s layered turning points saving the film from being deemed run-of-the-mill. As much as the characters think they’ve reached their goal, a new challenge arises. Later on, digging something from the past reveals far more than what they imagined. We begin to be invested in this exhumation team, as despite having unique sets of skills, they’re still human after all. That’s why when something gets past behind and they discover a major turn of events, we’re just as shocked as they are.
A horror film is effective when the stakes can be felt by both the characters and the audience, aligning what we see on screen and taking them all in when it unfolds. However, there can be a downside to showing too much and failing to kill one’s darlings. The third act of the story, particularly in the horror genre, is a pivotal aspect that can make or break a film. This is the culmination of the scares and horrors that the film’s been leading up to, where the confrontation with evil takes place. It’s quite a tricky place when there have been various horror films that almost share the same plot and the kind of terror the characters go toe-to-toe with. There is always a need to reinvent the horror genre to try and satisfy the audience with something to remember.
With that being said, Exhuma has a third-act problem. The film builds up to this roaring presence and it just felt too long to get through, despite having good pacing between the first and second act. In turn, the danger slightly derails leading to the third act, as we begin to just wait to see how the story ends. However, this doesn’t get in the way of how the film turns out as it still manages to embrace the things they set up with at the very beginning.
There isn’t an overreliance on jump scares, I’ll give it that, rather leaning towards sacred beliefs and folklore that even the international audience can get behind. Ultimately, even in a mainstream horror film such as Exhuma, there is a spotlight on one’s culture that can be presented to the younger generation in South Korea.
Catch Exhuma in Philippine cinemas starting March 20.
