When I think of shamans, my imagination conjures up an elderly mentor with a creaky voice who hits their student with a crooked walking stick. My soul was not prepared to see a pair of statuesque stunners from the K-Drama world sashaying towards the spiritual world like it’s their personal runway. (And I am appreciating the view respectfully!)
The supernatural thriller features highly capable shamans Hwa-rim (Kim Go-eun) and Bong-gil (Lee Do-hyun), who were hired to deal with an angry ancestral spirit haunting a rich family. And along for the ride are mortician, Yeong-geun (Yoo Hae-jin) and Feng Shui pro/soil connoisseur Kim Sang-deok (Choi Min-sik). As expected, things didn’t go as planned with a complication of the burial-ception variety pushing the team to hustle harder to earn their pay.
Photo Credit: Columbia Pictures
Hwa-rim + Bong-gil = The “PLOT”
In every scene where the shaman pair show up, they stand out as if they’re customizable video game characters in a cutscene. Bong-gil was often seen swaggering, all tatted up, into even the most mundane situations like he’s got that gangster in him. And Hwa-rim really “bodied” her role, especially while performing the sacred rituals. I would always get hyped up during these scenes because she moved with an infectious, frenetic energy and danced like rent was due. Who wouldn’t be dancing up a storm when the ritualistic rhythm was a certified dance floor burner? (I may or may not have tried the moves myself after watching the film.)
Photo Credit: Columbia Pictures
The rest of the occultist heist team
The grizzled veteran of the group, Kim Sang-deok, ate the scenery both figuratively and literally. Just when you thought that “touching grass” was enough to commune with nature, he took it a step further by getting a handful of dirt and savoring it like sweet cocoa powder. He was so convincing that I ended up craving chocolate after the movie so while I’ve never seen Oldboy as of this writing *insert angry film bro reactions,* I totally get the hype around him.
I was also feeling the peak girlhood energy among the shaman support system, which consisted of Oh Gwang-shim (Kim Sun-young) and Park Ja-hye (Kim Ji-an), who was still a student. These women deserve more screen time!
And as much as I want to be as badass as majority of the team, let’s be real, I would be more like Yeong-geun, who had the most relatable reactions throughout the film when it came to spooky stuff. His need to take snack breaks and the subsequent disappointment of disrupting his “me time” made me feel seen and heard.
Folklore (Exhuma’s Version)
My personal preferences came into play because while I generally enjoy the visceral freak fest of its Western counterpart, Asian horror hits differently and has always resonated with me and my fascination with local/regional folklore. Particularly, the otherworldly commonalities that tie our diverse Asian cultures together. I was so hooked on the lore that I could even forgive some of the distracting VFX moments (the foxes and the snake lady are waving!) and the sometimes lethargic pacing of the film.
Photo Credit: Columbia Pictures
TL;DR BRB officially filing Shaman under totes cool jobs
Exhuma’s liberal flex of aesthetics, from the highly stylized ritual dances to the spiritual encounters, didn’t distract from the movie and even helped support the story. The film showcased the ways of shamanism like it was the new cool core aesthetic while still respecting the culture.
Due to the long runtime though, the plot kept plotting on with a length rivaling the amount of time it takes to bid your relatives goodbye before they launch into yet another anecdote as you awkwardly stand by the door. While I think all the segments in the film tied together well, it could have been trimmed down to make it less dragging. Also, if you’re sensitive to light like me (I promise, I’m not a vampire…I think.), there are some very bright scenes that will require a bit of shade.
Exhuma also hit that sweet spot in the venn diagram between K-Drama fans and spooky stans because it gives both an interesting glimpse into the world of Korean shamanistic rituals (and–slight spoiler– Japanese mythical creatures) while also providing a great gateway into K-media like Goblin, The Glory, and the aforementioned Oldboy thanks to its top-notch star power.
The cast understood the assignment! No notes!
P.S. Bong-gil’s tattoos deserve to be credited separately as its own character.
P.S.S. As if there wasn’t enough reason to watch, Exhuma has also received several nominations for the 60th Baeksang Art Awards in South Korea, happening on May 7.
You can still catch Exhuma in select cinemas. Thank you, Columbia Pictures Philippines for the invite.
