![[Introducing the work]Ma Dong-seok’s first occult ‘Holy Night: Demon Hunters’. Following the “Crime](https://zombiegaming.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/news-pv120250423f42ac55059f94c3cb7817e91de7dfa41_P1-810x400.jpg)
[Introducing the work]
Ma Dong-seok‘s first occult ‘Holy Night: Demon Hunters’. Following the “Crime City” series, Ma Dong-seok participated as a producer and lead again this time. A dark hero occult action film about a dark fixer “Holy Night” team (Bau, Sharon, and Kim Gun) who has a special ability against the backdrop of a city confused by a group of worshiping evil. Released on April 30. Running time 92 minutes, ages 15 and up.
[Straightforward]
A city confused by demons and dark admirers who pursue him. When even the public power becomes powerless in front of them, the “Holy Night” team, Bau (Ma Dong-seok), Sharon (Seohyun), and Kim (Idawit), who have special abilities, want to punish the group of evil. Then, Jung-won (Kyung Soo-jin), the client, suddenly visits her, saying that her younger brother Eun-seo (Jung Ji-so) shows abnormal symptoms, and she feels a powerful presence that has never been seen before. The ‘Holy Night’ team fights to save the world against the worst evil.
[Opening]
Along with a CCVT video containing abnormal symptoms of her younger brother Eunseo (Jung Ji-so), a monologue from her older sister Jeong-won (Kyung Soo-jin), a neuropsychiatrist, will follow. On the 34th day of observation, Eunseo, who smiles eerily with the bizarre behavior in the video, what has happened to her, who can’t even be touched by a doctor.
[Introducing the character]
# “I’m going to stop you”…The exorcist of the fist, ‘Bau’ (Ma Dong-seok): the president who leads the exorcist office ‘Holy Night’. Born with extraordinarily strong power from birth, he beats the demons with a rock-like fist. Joseph, who grew up like a best friend in the nursery in the past, is in a great shock when the power of evil, which has been eroded, wakes up and kills the nursery family. Determined to punish the evil forces in pursuit of the disappeared Joseph, he has since established “Holy Night” with the relationship that saved the lives of “Sharon” and “Kim Gun,” who were obsessed with the power of the devil in the past, and works as a dark solver.
# “Answer me. Who are you?” ‘Sharon’ (Seohyun), an absolute exorcist whom the devil also coveted, has the ability to feel, find, and exorcise the presence of the devil. Due to this special ability, it has been preyed on by devil worshippers in the past, but ‘Bau’ appears and saves her life. After the incident seven years ago, ‘Sharon’ joined ‘Holy Night’ and began to use his abilities in a beneficial place. Her special abilities save another soul today, from her white-changing eyes during exorcism, her touch to feel the energy of evil, and her spells memorizing in ancient languages.
#”They’re all around us”…Multiplayer, ‘Kim Gun’ (Idawit): Once a devils admirer, blinded by the power of evil, didn’t hesitate to commit crimes. However, he realizes his fault due to “Bau” and joins as a member of “Holy Night.” It is a multiplayer who is in charge of the early setting of the case requested with quick information, records the exorcism scene, and does everything for “Bau” and the office. Sometimes it’s quirky, but it’s friendly, so it presents “Bau” and a pleasant tiki-taka. The mood maker of “Holy Night” team.
#”Please save my brother”…Neurosurgeon client, ‘Garden’ (Kyung Soo-jin): neuropsychiatrist. The single mother dies after a long battle with cancer and lives alone with her younger brother. After moving to a remote rural house, his younger brother “Eunseo” begins to suffer from abnormal symptoms of unknown cause. I try all kinds of ways to save ‘Eunseo’, but I can’t find the answer with medicine. “Garden,” who can never give up his painful brother, visits “Holy Night” after contemplation.
#”What happened to me?” …‘Eunseo’, encroached on by the devil (Jung Ji So): I suffered from panic disorder after losing my mother, but I rely on my sister, who is the only family member, to try to get back to normal. While dreaming of becoming a dancer and concentrating on audition preparations, one day, he will not be able to control his body. I thought it was because of audition stress, but there was something evil deep in her.
[Saying something]
# Ma Dong Seok’s exorcism action where fire punches fly
Ma Dong-seok’s trademark, which does not need a modifier, is a flame fist this time. He, who had built his own world view by compiling the screen with fist action in various works, challenged the occult action genre for the first time. It added powerful and fast movements to the existing striking coolness and added a colorful CG effect to differentiate it from its predecessors. However, if you look at it in detail, there is definitely a difference from his previous works, but from the audience’s point of view, it is just that much of a pleasure rather than an upgraded virtue.)
# Seohyun of the Unexpected, a stop in the air
Seohyun as Sharon, a powerful exorcist who can exorcise any demon. The youngest member of Girls’ Generation who is a model student is transforming and rebellion itself. Seohyun expresses not only the appearance of Sharon, the most important character in the play, but also the inside in three dimensions. The spell of calling out the devil is perfect in her own style, and the obvious way feels fresh thanks to her.
Jeong Ji-so’s explosive passion is also considerable. Perfectly transformed into a girl encroached by the devil, the inner workings shown in “How” and “Parasite” finally explode. He is in charge of suspense in the play with explosive enthusiasm that does not fall behind the “Bau” character played by Ma Dong-seok.
[Criticism]
# Ma Dongseok. Universe’s ambition and limitations
Producer Ma Dong-seok, who referred to thousands of horror movies, said, “This movie challenged the occult genre, and the content that looked good was a common “jjamppong” without newness. His spirit of challenge is high, shallow but too shallow. The stronger the color, the more enthusiastic inquiry, broad understanding, and extraordinary affection are needed, but the limitations are clearly revealed, perhaps because of too much focus on efficiency as usual. The megaphone, the craftsmanship, and the depth of the producer. Action, comedy, and crime sweeps once again cry over the core charms of Ma Dong-seok Universe, the main player, and fail to distinguish housewives properly. Even if I look down on “Occult,” which peaked as “Pillow,” I think I looked down on it too much.
# poor screenplay, descriptive lines, childish and contrived characters
In a story with virtually no story, which is all about “devil cleaning up,” it has a character movie and exorcism action. Unfortunately, the development is also wildly distracting. However, in the case of Jeong Ji-so, who is “Captured by Evil”, there were already many acting geniuses who performed the same in many similar genres, so it did not give much impression (apart from the actor’s acting skills). Lee Da-Wit is not impressed at all compared to the amount, and Kyung Soo-jin, who is all-in on emotional acting, is also on the outside. Neither evil spirits nor those who follow evil spirits can immerse themselves. It’s like a zombie unit that goes out of steam just by running into each other.
It is also problematic to switch scenes that are cut off without context and one-dimensional production inspired by classical Eastern horror such as Japan and Thailand. a sense of deja vu and boredom. Just crudely sticking the elements of occult, exorcism, and horror that you’ve seen somewhere in the Ma Dong-seok’s action bowl. CG is also below expectations.
[An extra issue]
Ma Dong-seok’s Eyes, Cider Philosophy, which even “Friend” Kwak Kyung-taek envied: Producer Ma Dong-seok’s Casting Philosophy, which shines as the film industry suffers from the risk of privacy of the leading actor. If actor Ma Dong-seok’s strength is his fist, producer Ma Dong-seok’s weapon is ‘eye’. Director Kwak Kyung-taek of Chungmuro even asked why he was jealous publicly. In the end, Ma Dong-seok revealed himself through an interview. In conclusion, personality rather than skill, good people create good works! It was an exemplary answer compared to the old men in Chungmu-ro who recently received a “drug prison” as a candidate for the “male actor award” and emphasized the “area of art” apart from their personal lives. Journalists also praised him as the reason why he was quickly called a mainstream and now a “hero” after being ignored as a “stranger.”
[Sound of excitement] Break-even point of about 2 million. The pre-sale rate was ranked first before the press distribution preview, but it was pushed to third place and is now competing for first place again. Nevertheless, the number of pre-sale tickets is single digits. It was Ma Dong-seok’s ambitious dark hero, but the box office score is expected to be dark.
[My score is (★5 out of 5, ☆ half)]
# Horoscope ★★
Don’t ignore K-Occult (Reporter Han Hyun-jung)
# Horoscope ★★★
Do you have a high spirit of challenge? I can’t buy a ticket. (An official from another distributor)
# Horoscope ★★★☆
It’s the same stop as Ma Dong-seok…You’ve done that hard thing
# Horoscope ★★★★
Holy harmony of occult and action! A blast, another blast! (Industry official)
# Horoscope ★★★
The return of the flame fist to illuminate the darkness of the theater…Save me, screen hero
