Exhuma – Berlinale Review

Chills, action and mystery in the best Korean supernatural horror since The Wailing.

★★★★

A wealthy family in Los Angeles hire two young exorcists to save their newborn child after a series of mysterious medical emergencies that may be supernatural attacks. The exorcists, Hwa-Rim (Kim Go-Eun) and Bong-Gil (Lee Do-Hyun), seek the help of a renowned feng shui master (Choi Min-Sik) and a Christian spiritualist funeral director (Yoo Hai-Jin). Together, they locate and excavate the grave of the family’s ancestor in a remote South Korean village. But will this attempt at exhumation and reburial stop the problem… or are things about to get much, much worse?

Featuring the lead actor (Choi Min-sik) from Oldboy, the cinematographer of I Saw The Devil, the stunt coordinator from Thirst, the sound guy from Parasite, and the composer from Bedevilled, the director has quietly amassed quite a team here, and it really pays off.

For my money this is the best Korean horror since 2016, the year that brought us The Wailing and Last Train to Busan. In fact it’s a must see for The Wailing fans as it plays in such similar territory – cultural contrasts, ritual defences against the supernatural, slippery mysterious antagonists, and a gonzo third act. Increasingly bonkers, this delivers chills, surprises, action, smart characterisation – and it really sticks the landing.

The only flaw was the unnecessary use of chapter titles. Please can we consign that affectation to the past?

Exhuma played at the Berlinale, and will be released on 15 March (UK) / 22 March (US).