Superstitions about dead relatives have always fascinated me, deeply rooted in both cultural heritage and personal experience. Growing up, I was surrounded by tales and beliefs about how the spirits of our deceased loved ones linger around us, influencing our lives in mysterious ways. One of my relatives often spoke of seeing signs from my late cousin, like finding his favorite flower blooming unexpectedly or feeling a sudden, inexplicable cold breeze in the house. These stories instilled in me a sense of wonder and reverence for the unseen, making me constantly aware of the thin veil between the living and the dead.

Such superstitions, while sometimes unsettling, also bring a strange comfort, as if the bonds of family transcend even death itself. So, even when I was scared to be in the house alone, I somehow felt like the spirits around were not going to hurt me. It’s funny how we rationalize these things to feel calm.

Movies dealing with the spirits of dead relatives and the curses they bring offer a chilling exploration of grief, guilt and unresolved familial issues. Films like Poltergeist delve into the consequences of disturbing the resting places of the dead, where a family’s home becomes haunted by malevolent spirits after relocating their burial site. South Korean cinema brings its unique cultural perspectives to the genre, with films like The Wailing illustrating how ancestral spirits and curses can wreak havoc on entire communities. These films use supernatural elements to explore deeper emotional and societal themes, making the horrors resonate on a personal and cultural level.

The latest familial horror film from South Korea, Exhuma, was released in February 2024 in Korea and is now reaching the U.S. The story follows Kim Sang Deok (Choi Min-sik), a feng shui master, and his partner, Young Geun (Yoo Hae-jin), who are asked by Park Ji-yong (Kim Jae-cheol) to exhume his grandfather’s coffin. Ji-yong believes his grandfather’s spirit is cursing his family, a theory supported by shamans Lee Hwa-rim (Kim Go-eun) and Yoon Bong-gil (Lee Do-hyun).

Concerned that the grave might be cursed, Kim allows Lee to perform a ritual to ward off evil spirits. However, when the ceremony goes awry, everyone involved becomes the target of a malevolent entity unearthed from the grave.

Exhuma feels like it could easily be two distinct horror movies. The initial focus on the Korean family curse sets the stage, but it quickly transitions into a gripping form of monster horror that brims with powerful imagery, which evokes a mix of awe, repulsion and intimidation. The film introduces one of the most sinister new horror monsters I have seen in quite some time.

It takes its time getting to that point, but the payoff is worth the build. Remember, viewers: patience is a virtue.

South Korean horror films often root their terrors in historical atrocities, particularly those from the Japanese occupation of Korea. This occupation, which predated World War II, is remembered with a similar revulsion as Westerners might view Nazi atrocities. Exhuma intertwines this historical horror with the supernatural, creating a story that becomes predictably intense yet culminates in a mind-blowing ending.

Director Jang Jae-hyun intricately weaves historical and supernatural horror, delivering a strikingly impactful story, even condemning a Japanese sympathizer to a horrific afterlife as a nod to historical grievances.

This movie stands out primarily due to its simplicity: ghosts terrorizing the living. The malevolent spirits are genuinely menacing, with the effects team creating something truly awe inspiring. The film balances subtle, tense scares, such as the phone-call scene, with some dry comedy. Though it’s early in the year, Exhuma is already a strong contender for South Korea’s best film, combining effective horror with an immersive narrative.

All in all, Exhuma gets a perfect five out of five stars from me. It is a thrilling and audacious film that consistently surprises the audience. The cast is strong, skillfully balancing some humor with suspense and frights, reminding me of a more serious version of the Ghostbusters. Exhuma is an immensely enjoyable thrill ride, making it the most fun you’ll have with the supernatural this summer.