Jang Jae-hyun's Occult Mystery Film Draws Global Audience Interest

Courtesy of Showbox

Director Jang Jae-hyun's latest film "Exhuma" is enjoying widespread success both domestically and internationally, with the film poised to surpass 10 million viewers in South Korea this week.

In Indonesia, "Exhuma" achieved significant success by selling 180,000 tickets within 20 days of its release on Feb. 28, making it the most successful Korean film in the country to date. The film's popularity in Indonesia even surpassed that of the animated franchise "Kung Fu Panda 4" in terms of total screen allocations.

Similarly, the movie made a strong debut in Vietnam, grossing a record-high $660,000 on its opening day, surpassing previous records set by Korean films. In Taiwan, "Exhuma" grossed 28.8 million Taiwanese dollars ($907,000) within a week of its release on March 8. 

▲ An Indonesian poster for "Exhuma” / Courtesy of ShowboxThe film is being distributed to 133 countries worldwide, including Vietnam, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Mongolia. It is scheduled for release in major markets such as the US, Canada, Britain, and Australia later this month.

In its home country of South Korea, "Exhuma" has attracted 9.38 million moviegoers, making it the most-viewed film of the year so far. The movie's rapid success is notable, with it reaching the 1-million admissions mark within three days, a day earlier than the 2023 hit film "12.12: The Day."

"Exhuma," Jang Jae-hyun's first film in five years, features veteran actor Choi Min-sik in his first-ever occult genre role in his 35-year acting career. The story revolves around Sang-deok, tasked with relocating a tomb with the help of undertaker Young-geun, after young exorcists Hwa-rim and Bong-gil receive a hefty sum of money and uncover a dark omen related to a wealthy Los Angeles family.

The film's acclaim led to an invitation to the 74th Berlin International Film Festival earlier this year.

Sayart

Kang In sig, insig6622@naver.com