Demons and Mudangs

One of the stapples of horror films is the exorcism, or the ritual of expelling evil spirits from a person or a place. The fascination with this occult proceeding could already be found in ancient times, but it reached mainstream appeal in modern times with the release of The Exorcist (1973), whose influence can’t be overstated as it spawned countless sequels, remakes, and imitations. Its director, William Friedkin, just passed away on August 7.  

However, exorcism, just like evil spirits and possessions, is not only a Western phenomenon. Mudangs, or Korean performers of traditional divination rituals, have been exorcising ghosts for centuries. In recent years, Korean cinema and television have taken to the increasingly popular subgenre, with varying degrees of success and originality. Even Kim Eun-hee, one of the most revered TV series screenwriters who had already ventured in horror fare with Kingdom (2019-2020), has recently tapped into exorcist stories with the drama series Revenant (2023). Currently available to stream on Disney+, it revolves around a young adult woman possessed by a demon and a Korean folklore professor who team up to try to solve a series of mysterious deaths. Meanwhile, theaters will welcome this September a Korean film that tackles the exorcism genre in Dr. Cheon and The Lost Talisman (2023) by Kim Seong-sik. Based on a 2014 hit webtoon wrote by Hooressha and drawn by Kim Hong-tae, Possession, it tells the story of a fake exorcist who has so far always managed to give his clients what they wanted because he is extremely talented in reading people’s mind, until he has to deal with a real evil spirit.

If you are a fan of exorcism films, there is plenty of titles to look forward to, but you might also want to check out some older titles like these ones we have listed for you this week. Who knows, you might even find yourself possessed by their stories.

The Soul Guardians (1998), by Park K.C.

The first Korean film dealing with the concept of exorcism occurred at a time when the Japanese Ring and the Korean Whispering Corridor had sparked a fresh interest in horror films among Korean moviegoers. It narrates the terrible account of seven namesake soul guardians, including a priest, attempting to prevent the surviving kid from a mass suicide, now an adult, from being possessed by Satan and giving birth to the Devil Himself. It is known for its violent sequences and amazing special effects for the period. 

Ghost Sweepers (2012), by Shin Jung-won

Mudangs and exorcists of all religions and abilities have come from all across the nation in a tiny town that has been afflicted by an army of extremely fierce spirits and must work together despite their differences to discover the source of the curse. The film, which is a satire of the exorcism genre, mocks its clichés and stereotypes.

The Chosen: Forbidden Cave (2015), by Kim Hwi

This is a horror thriller film about a reporter who follows a mudang-turned-psychiatrist performing an exorcism, which leads them to investigate an intriguing cave on Jeju Island and a tragic chapter in history. This film was among the first in the second wave of exorcism films, and is best known today for his interesting approach to tackle the events of the Jeju Uprising.

The Priests (2015), by Jang Jae-hyun

This film, inspired by the Korean comic book of the same name, was the genuine beginning of what is known in Korea as "occult movies," or supernatural mystery thrillers. A group of Catholic priests tries to exorcise a terrible demon that has taken possession of a young adolescent. Exorcisms are performed by priests using a variety of methods and weapons, including holy water, crosses, swords, and firearms. Parasite sensation Park So-dam, in her breakthrough role, plays the infected girl.

The Wailing (2016), by Na Hong-jin

So far, we've seen that horror and exorcisms in Korean films are frequently based on either Christianism or Korean folk beliefs, but Na Hong-jin's latest derives the majority of its creepy atmosphere by deftly blending both to induce fear of the unknown. Set in a remote community, a local cop investigates a string of inexplicable killings that all feature the same unsettling trait: people suddenly going insane and killing their whole family. A strange woman appears in front of him and sends him to a Japanese guy who lives as a recluse in the forest and is believed by the villagers to be the devil.

Svaha: The Sixth Finger (2019), by Jang Jae-hyun

A pastor famed for exposing cults is charged with studying the Deer Mountain Buddhist group. Meanwhile, the police discover that a girl's body has been buried in concrete, with a talisman in her mouth. This film, like The Wailing, made extensive use of both Christian and Buddhist themes to create a unique mood.  

The Divine Fury (2019), by Jason Kim

In this horror fantasy film, an MMA fighter discovers that his freshly acquired stigmata grant him divine abilities, making him the only one capable of stopping evil forces at work. The only problem is that since his father died, he has harbored a resentment against the Christian God.