Jang Jae-hyun's Occult Film Achieves Milestone, Outpacing Previous Record Held by "12.12: The Day"

Courtesy of Showbox

The Korean occult film "Exhuma" has made cinematic history by reaching over 5 million admissions within the first 10 days of its release, marking the fastest achievement of such a milestone in 2024.

According to the Korea Box Office Information System (Kobis), "Exhuma" recorded 5,381,156 tickets sold by the end of Saturday, just 10 days since its debut on February 22. This surpasses the previous record held by the 2023 hit history drama "12.12: The Day," which took 18 days to reach the 5 million admissions mark. 

▲ “Exhuma” / Courtesy of Showbox

Directed and written by Jang Jae-hyun, "Exhuma" is the filmmaker's third venture following "The Priests" (2015) and "Svaha: The Sixth Finger" (2019). The film has garnered commercial success for its subtle critique of Japanese imperialist rule between 1910 and 1945, particularly resonating with the historical context of the March 1 Independence Movement Day.

▲ A scene from "Exhuma" / Courtesy of ShowboxFeaturing a cast led by Choi Min-sik from "Oldboy" (2003), alongside Kim Go-eun, Yoo Hae-jin, and Lee Do-hyun in his silver screen debut, the horror film revolves around Hwa-rim, played by Kim, a shaman who, along with her partner medium Bong-gil (Lee), responds to a haunting request from a Korean family in the United States. The storyline unfolds as the duo, accompanied by a feng shui expert and an undertaker, exhume the family ancestors’ grave, leading to unsettling events, including deaths and possessions.

"Exhuma" had its premiere at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival on February 16, being part of the Forum section, known for showcasing experimental films. This accolade aligns with the recognition received by previous films such as director Bong Joon-ho’s "Snowpiercer" (2013) and Kim Tae-yong’s "Late Autumn" (2010).

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