Exhuma (2024) Review| A Chilling Korean Horror Thriller You Can’t Miss

• Native Title: 파묘
• Also Known As: Pamyo , The Unearthed Grave
• Screenwriter & Director: Jang Jae Hyun
• Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Horror, Supernatural

Cast

Choi Min Shik as Kim Sang Deok

Kim Go Eun as Lee Hwa Rim

Yoo Hae Jin as Ko Young Geun

Lee Do Hyun as Yoon Bong Gi

Synopsis of Exhuma Movie

“Exhuma” is a 2024 South Korean horror film directed by Jang Jae-hyun, blending supernatural elements with historical themes. The story centers on Hwa-rim (Kim Go-eun), a renowned shaman, and her apprentice Bong-gil (Lee Do-hyun), who are hired by a wealthy family to investigate a mysterious illness afflicting their newborn son. They discover the cause to be a “Grave’s Call,” a vengeful ancestral spirit haunting the family.

To resolve the curse, they enlist the help of geomancer Kim Sang-deok (Choi Min-sik) and mortician Yeong-geun (Yoo Hae-jin) to exhume and relocate the ancestor’s grave, located in a remote mountain near the North Korean border. However, disturbing the grave unleashes a malevolent force, leading to a series of terrifying events that threaten their lives.

The film delves into themes of greed, historical trauma, and the consequences of disrupting the resting places of the dead. Structured into six chapters, “Exhuma” offers a slow-burning horror experience, focusing on atmosphere and tension rather than traditional jump scares. The performances, particularly by Kim Go-eun and Choi Min-sik, have been praised for their depth and authenticity.

“Exhuma” premiered at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival on February 16, 2024, and was released theatrically on February 22, receiving positive reviews for its storytelling and atmospheric horror elements.

Review of Exhuma Movie

Walking into Exhuma, I had high expectations. With a star-studded cast, a promising horror premise, and elements of folklore and shamanism, I was excited to see how this film would blend supernatural horror with historical themes. And for the most part, it delivered.

Cinematography & Atmosphere

The first thing that immediately stood out to me was the cinematography. Every shot in Exhuma is carefully crafted, capturing the eerie beauty of the landscapes and the unsettling darkness that surrounds the story. The way light and shadows are used to enhance the suspense is masterful. The film’s color palette, filled with muted tones and dark contrasts, makes everything feel oppressive, adding to the overall sense of dread. I was fully immersed in its haunting atmosphere, and I can’t stress enough how much the visuals added to the horror experience.

The soundtrack also deserves a lot of praise. It perfectly complements the film’s eerie tension, using subtle, creeping sounds rather than loud, jarring music. The slow, ominous buildup in certain scenes made my skin crawl, and it made me feel uneasy even when nothing explicitly scary was happening. That’s the kind of horror I love—the type that gets under your skin and lingers.

Story & Pacing

The film throws you into the action right from the beginning, which I really appreciated. It doesn’t waste time with unnecessary exposition, and instead, it slowly peels back layers of its mystery as the story progresses. At first, it seems like a simple ghost story involving a cursed grave, but as the film unfolds, it becomes something much bigger—a historical and geopolitical horror piece that explores themes of war, betrayal, and supernatural vengeance.

That said, the pacing is a bit uneven. The first act is a slow burn, setting up the eerie premise, and then the second act does an incredible job of building suspense. I was completely hooked at this point, anticipating where the story would go next. However, the third act takes a sudden tonal shift that I wasn’t entirely on board with. After all the brilliant buildup, the resolution felt a little too rushed and leaned more into a “superpower” style of action rather than sticking to the supernatural horror that had been established earlier. It wasn’t necessarily bad, but it felt like a departure from the rest of the film’s tone, which slightly weakened the impact of the climax.

Characters & Performances

The performances in Exhuma are phenomenal, and the cast absolutely carries the film. Kim Go-eun and Lee Do-hyun were the biggest standouts for me. Their chemistry felt natural, and their performances added depth to their characters. Choi Min-sik and Yoo Hae-jin were also fantastic, bringing a level of intensity and believability that made every scene engaging.

However, I did feel like the character development could have been better. Kim Go-eun’s character, for instance, had so much potential, but we hardly got any backstory on her. We know she’s a shaman, speaks Japanese, and has two sisters—but why? How did she become a shaman? Did something happen in her past that led her to this path? The movie barely explores this, which made it hard for me to feel fully invested in her struggles.

Additionally, while the film gives us glimpses of the historical and supernatural elements, it doesn’t always explain them clearly. As someone who isn’t deeply familiar with certain aspects of Korean history and folklore, I found myself confused at times, especially regarding the metal stake and the Japanese demon subplot. I had to do some research afterward to fully grasp the deeper meaning of these elements, and I feel like the film could have provided a bit more context without relying on external knowledge.

Horror Elements & Execution

What I really loved about Exhuma was its approach to horror. Instead of relying on cheap jump scares, the film builds an unsettling atmosphere through its storytelling and cinematography. Some of the best horror moments were the ones that didn’t show too much—just subtle movements in the shadows, eerie sounds, and an overwhelming sense of something sinister lurking nearby.

One scene, in particular, stood out to me: when the team starts disturbing the grave, and strange occurrences begin to unfold. The slow, creeping horror in these moments was incredibly well done, and it kept me at the edge of my seat.

However, the final act did let me down a bit. The movie spent so much time setting up a deeply disturbing supernatural horror, only to shift gears into something more action-driven by the end. While I still enjoyed it, I couldn’t help but feel like it could have been executed differently to maintain the eerie tone that made the first two acts so effective.

Final Thoughts on Exhuma Movie

Despite its flaws, Exhuma is a solid horror film with a lot to offer. The cinematography is stunning, the performances are top-tier, and the horror elements are executed in a way that makes the experience immersive. If you enjoy slow-burn horror that focuses on atmosphere and folklore, this movie is definitely worth watching.

However, if you prefer straightforward horror with clear explanations, you might find parts of this film confusing or frustrating. I personally enjoyed the layered storytelling, even if I had to do a bit of research afterward to fully understand it. My biggest complaint is that it felt like Exhuma could have been even better if it had been expanded into a series rather than a movie. There was so much potential to dive deeper into the characters and historical elements, and I think a longer format would have allowed the story to breathe more.

That being said, I still highly recommend watching it—especially in a theater, if possible. The haunting atmosphere, masterful cinematography, and stellar performances make it an experience worth having. It may not be the scariest horror film out there, but it’s definitely one of the most unique and visually striking ones I’ve seen in a long time.