A Six-Part Netflix Original Series and a Star-Studded Mystery Flick Offer a Glimpse into Korea's Unique Take on Occult Thrillers

Courtesy of Netflix

In the coming months, fans of occult thrillers can anticipate a double dose of Korean supernatural narratives, catering to both local and international audiences.

The Bequeathed, a six-part occult thriller set to debut on Netflix on Jan. 19, is directed by Min Hong-nam, previously an assistant director on the acclaimed 2016 zombie thriller "Train to Busan." The series, based on a webtoon of the same title and co-written by Yeon Sang-ho, known for the global hit series "Hellbound" and the zombie thriller "Peninsula," centers around Seo-ha (Kim Hyun-joo), who inherits a family gravesite, leading to a series of mysterious events, including murders investigated by cops Seong-joon (Park Hee-soon) and Sang-min (Park Byung-eun). 

▲ “The Bequeathed”, Courtesy of NetflixExhuma, a star-studded mystery film helmed by Jang Jae-hyun, renowned for "The Priests" (2015) and "Svaha: The Sixth Finger" (2019), is expected to hit theaters in February. The film features a cast including Choi Min-sik, Kim Go-eun, Yoo Hae-jin, and Lee Do-hyun. The plot follows Sang-deok (Choi) and Young-geun (Yoo) tasked with relocating a tomb after young exorcists Hwa-rim (Kim) and Bong-gil (Lee) sense dark power surrounding a wealthy family in Los Angeles.

Jang Jae-hyun, recognized as a "K-occult master," returns with "Exhuma" after a five-year hiatus, following the success of his previous occult films.

While The Bequeathed explores themes familiar to a Korean audience, its universal appeal to international viewers remains uncertain. On the other hand, Jang's track record in popularizing the occult genre in Korea heightens expectations for Exhuma's potential success in attracting audiences to theaters. The release date for Exhuma is yet to be confirmed by distributor ShowBox.

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Blue YIM, yimyoungseo1010@naver.com