The movie 'Holy Night: Demon Hunters,' an occult action film starring actor Ma Dong-seok, has heightened expectations since its production briefing.
On the 2nd, the production briefing for the film 'Holy Night: Demon Hunters' (screenplay/director Lim Dae-hee, provided/distributed by Lotte Entertainment, produced by Big Punch Pictures and Nova Film, abbreviated as Holy Night) was successfully held at Lotte Cinema in Kondae Exit.
'Holy Night' is an occult action film about a city plunged into chaos by a group that worships evil, featuring a team of dark troubleshooters called 'Holy Night' consisting of Bau (Ma Dong-seok), Sharon (Seohyun), and Kim-gun (Idawit), who take on evil forces. At the production briefing, the main cast members Ma Dong-seok, Seohyun, Idawit, Kyung Su-jin, and Jung Ji-so attended and showcased their vibrant presence. They exuded powerful energy from their appearance and shared heartfelt stories about their love for the film during the following talk.
Ma Dong-seok, who participated in the planning and production of the film, said, "Director Lim Dae-hee, who specializes in occult films, and I collaborated on this project because I love the occult genre and have written several papers on the subject. We came together with the thought of how to incorporate action and fantasy into an occult film," generating significant anticipation for the meeting between the occult enthusiast director and the action icon actor.
The formation of the 'Holy Night' team was swift. Seohyun noted, "I couldn’t take my eyes off the script; I read it as if I were drawn in from my seat. It was so enjoyable that I had no hesitation at all. I thought I couldn't miss the opportunity to act with senior Ma Dong-seok. I held onto the thought that 'Sharon is mine.'" Idawit added, "There’s a thrilling climax. There are occult elements that are resolved refreshingly, which was appealing. I expressed my intention to participate within an hour or two. The process of forming the 'Holy Night' team was very satisfying," emphasizing that everyone's excitement made it impossible to resist the charm of the project.
Ma Dong-seok, who plays 'Bau,' a character that tackles demons, stated, "This film combines basic boxing action typical of a Ma Dong-seok character with fantasy. Additionally, it incorporates wires and special effects. We are a team that has worked together on the 'Crime City' series, so we always strive to uncover unique aspects of action," raising expectations for the refreshing and thrilling action unique to 'Holy Night: Demon Hunters.'
Seohyun, who will captivate the screen as 'Sharon,' said, "I had many worries about how to portray a character I had never seen before. Rather than referencing other films, I wanted to create my own 'Sharon.' I often perform incantations inspired by ancient languages, so I wanted to express them naturally as if they were my words, practicing all day with earphones to listen to and memorize the lines," sharing her efforts to become one with the character.
Idawit, who portrays ‘Kim-gun,’ the multi-player of the 'Holy Night' team, introduced his character by saying, "I take care of everything except for the boss's punch and Sharon's exorcism abilities. I handle all other tasks to allow Bau and Sharon to flourish in their roles." He further described, "Kim-gun has a quirky and bright side. He serves as a mood maker who creates refreshing scenes in between. I also look forward to the delightful back-and-forth created with Ma Dong-seok," while demonstrating a warm chemistry by taking a boxing sparring stance with Ma Dong-seok during a break on set.
Kyung Su-jin, portraying the sister 'Jung-won' who struggles to save her possessed brother, remarked, "The role of 'Jung-won' involves a lot of emotional scenes. As a psychiatrist, she is a character who cannot accept situations without scientific logic, providing a perspective for the audience to view unrealistic situations." She added that she worked hard to preserve detail in every reaction. Furthermore, she mentioned that the character required a balance of being fun while having to cry when filming, expressing curiosity about her ability to switch emotions freely.
Jung Ji-so, who plays 'Eun-seo,' the younger sister whose soul is taken by a demon, expressed, "I take pride in this work that combines the occult and action genres I have always loved, along with Ma Dong-seok's unique humor." Anticipating a significant transformation in her acting, Jung Ji-so added, "I researched and practiced to depict 'Eun-seo’s' weak side, which is both bizarre and something I want to protect, alongside the choreographer from 'Train to Busan' and the 'Kingdom' series, paying close attention to every movement in my performance." Ma Dong-seok commented, "This will be a rediscovery of Jung Ji-so. It must have been very difficult for her to portray multiple personalities, but she did incredibly well, over 200%."
The chemistry among the actors also warmed the set. Above all, all the actors' affection directed towards Ma Dong-seok created a lively atmosphere. Seohyun noted, "All the actors fell in love with senior Ma Dong-seok. He takes good care of everyone, making it impossible not to love him," while Idawit added, "I loved him too." Kyung Su-jin stated, "Even if we say the same thing, the atmosphere comes to life. He was the mood maker on set. Senior received lots of love from everyone," and Jung Ji-so mentioned, "There was a lot of action acting, but he made it comfortable by being very considerate," showering Ma Dong-seok with immense affection. Ma Dong-seok responded, "The chemistry was great both in front of and behind the camera. Although it’s a powerful and intense work combining the occult with action, we had a really good time filming together."
'Holy Night' will be released in theaters on the 30th.
[Photo] Provided by Lotte Entertainment.
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