When actor Ma Dong-seok's big punch hits, even demons fall down. Returning as a dark hero without losing his wit, this is Chungmuro's 'One Punch Man' Ma Dong-seok's new film 'Holy Night: Demon Hunters.'
The film 'Holy Night: Demon Hunters' (directed by Im Dae-hee, provided/distributed by Lotte Entertainment, produced by Big Punch Pictures Nova Film, abbreviated as 'Holy Night') is an occult action film where a team settling darkness, including Bau (Ma Dong-seok), Sharon (Seo-hyun), and Kim-gun (Lee Da-wit), punishes a group of evil in a city overwhelmed by chaos due to a group that worships evil. This is a new work in which Ma Dong-seok, who features in the box-office hit 'The Outlaws' series, stars and serves as a producer.
'Holy Night' begins with the exorcism trio created by the three main characters Bau, Sharon, and Kim-gun, who bear the weight of the title role. Bau boasts a heavy presence and a powerful punch, Sharon exudes the presence of a 'shaman' crossing East and West, and Kim-gun, who supports both filming and the exorcism process as well as action on various fronts. The teamwork of the three helps save people from the endless nights haunted by evil spirits.
A sister appeared before them. Jung Won (Kyung Soo-jin), a psychiatric doctor, and her younger sister Eun-seo (Jung Ji-so) who should be far removed from exorcism. In desperation to save her younger sister Eun-seo, whom modern medicine could not help, Jung Won turns to the 'Holy Night' team. Bau performs an exorcism on Eun-seo with Sharon and Kim-gun to drive away the evil spirits that consume not only himself but also the pleas of his older sister.
At a previous production briefing, Ma Dong-seok emphasized director Im Dae-hee as "an expert who even wrote a thesis on the occult genre," showcasing his confidence. Indeed, 'Holy Night' captivates attention by showing detailed exorcism rituals that have not been easily seen in any other films to date. Since the hit of 'The Exorcist,' exorcism rituals have gained widespread fame in Korea through films like 'The Priests' and 'The Unholy,' but 'Holy Night' stimulates curiosity with deeper information and details.
In addition to this, Sharon's activity, which gives a feel of a medium, shaman, and 'shaman,' adds character. While previous occult films were based on the exorcisms of Catholic priests, the exorcism in 'Holy Night' adds stages of Eastern martial arts, providing unique charm. The unique exorcism where East and West meet. Seo-hyun of Girls' Generation, who chose 'Holy Night' as her first commercial feature film, takes on the role of Sharon and demonstrates a strong presence visually throughout the film's exorcism.
Ma Dong-seok's action delivers an even more powerful thrill. While the detective Ma Seok-do (Ma Dong-seok) in 'The Outlaws' series takes down criminals existing in reality, Bau in 'Holy Night' delivers a strong blow to villains possessing evil spirits, whom ordinary people rarely encounter. Combining a solid physique, reliable Ma Dong-seok-style action based on consistent boxing, and the fantasy of demon hunting offers a thrill that is hard to find in reality.
Particularly, the cinematic details that enhance sound and impact add audiovisual enjoyment. Detailed CGI explains that Bau's punch contains the power to defeat demons, not just action. Watching Bau become even stronger in front of a powerful demon is a sight not to be missed. Through this, Ma Dong-seok once again delivers the exhilarating experience of "Is this possible?" in cinematic form.
In addition to the original exorcism and Ma Dong-seok-style action, the film shows a change not seen in his previous works in terms of retaining the 'dark hero.' Although the combination of Bau, Sharon, and Kim-gun appears to offer a touch of comedy, the basic atmosphere of 'Holy Night' is heavy. Of course, the delightful hustle between Ma Dong-seok and Lee Da-wit balances things out by delivering laughs just when one might forget.
However, while Ma Dong-seok, who knows how to bring joy from a thrilling blow in the noir genre, maintains a serious demeanor without being chatty or explanatory in 'Holy Night.' This leads to speculation about Bau's story related to the exorcism and sparks curiosity about the untold next chapters. With an unprecedented dark hero, Ma Dong-seok tears through demons in 'Physical' Exorcism 'Holy Night.'
Opens on April 30, rated for ages 15 and over, with a running time of 92 minutes.
[Photo] Provided by Lotte Entertainment.
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