Exhuma (2024)
Kim Go-eun, Choi Min-sik, Lee Do-hyun, Yoo Hai Jin, Kim Jae-cheol, Kim Sun-young, Lee Jong-goo, Lee Yeong-ran
Directed by: Jang Jae-hyun
This one’s been in my to-watch list since it came out 2 years ago, and I finally got around to it. And while I’m left slightly confused, I did enjoy my time with it.
After tracing a strange ailment to a remote grave site, a team of supernatural experts soon discovers what happens when you mess with the wrong grave.
So, this one was special. I can confidently say I’ve never seen anything quite like it. But honestly, that’s because this film leans heavily on Korean and Japanese folklore, so I had no idea what was going on half the time. The run time was also a little daunting, clocking in at 2 hours and 14 minutes. I’d say it was a little excessive, but really, it didn’t feel that long. It’s definitely a slow burn, but everything that’s in there kinda needs to be. I’d have been even more confused if anything had been left out.
On a technical level, this film is gorgeous. The colours, the camera work, everything worked in its favour. The acting was all around terrific, especially from our leading lady. I almost didn’t watch it cause when I put it on, on Prime, it was dubbed and I was like nope, I’m out. But then I thought to check the audio settings, and I changed it to original, and put English subtitles on and voila! No more awful dubbing. And from the little I heard, the dubbing was truly awful. And, because I’m contractually obligated to say so, the most beautiful Asian man I’ve ever seen is in this film (Lee Do-hyun as Yoon Bong-gil). I mean, holy hell…
So, do I recommend it? If you don’t mind experiencing other cultures, and slow burns don’t bother you, then yes, absolutely. I give it a pretty great 8/10. Now to go hunt down Lee Do-hyun’s other work…
M.
This film is currently streaming on Amazon Prime, AMC+, and Shudder.
What are those strange symbols on that person’s arm in your picture?
Hmm – that could also be a good name for an Italian Giallo.
#FF
They’re a Buddhist prayer in Korean.
Is Exhuma an Italian word?
#FF!
This one’s on my list! I have so many Korean films on my list right now, though, lol. Lee Do-hyun is a cutie, but I think Lee Dong-wook is prettier (although sometimes his team gives him bad hair).
Looking him up right now……. Hmm, he’s cute, but there’s something about him that I don’t quite like. I think it’s the shape of his jaw/chin.
Now I need to go stare at pictures of him and his jaw/chin, lolol.
This movie sounds neat! Confusing is way better than bad, especially if one googles the folklore. Hooray for subbing, subbing foreverrrrr!
I’ve only watched dubbed movies a handful of time and have regretted it every time. My Gram didn’t speak much english, so whenever she’d watch an english movie, it was dubbed in french. Then she’d say “oh so and so is a great actor”, and I’d just look at her and say “how do you know?”