The highly anticipated spring film 'Holy Night: Demon Hunters' successfully held a media screening.
'Holy Night: Demon Hunters' (written and directed by Lim Dae-hee, distributed by Lotte Entertainment, produced by Big Punch Pictures and Nova Film) is an occult action film about a city plunged into chaos by a group that worships evil, featuring a team of darkness resolvers with special abilities: 'Holy Night' team members Bau (Ma Dong-seok), Sharon (Seo-hyun), and Kim-gun (Lee Dae-wit) who eliminate the forces of evil.
The film 'Holy Night: Demon Hunters' finally unveiled its secrets through a media screening at Lotte Cinema World Tower on April 21 (Monday). The media screening featured Ma Dong-seok, Seo-hyun, Lee Dae-wit, Kyung Soo-jin, Jeong Ji-so, and director Lim Dae-hee, who showcased their strong presence.
Ma Dong-seok, who plays the role of Bau, the leader of the 'Holy Night' team, is set to capture audiences with his overwhelming punch action that can knock out demons. He noted, "Since it's a genre mixed with fantasy elements, I had expectations for refreshing action, and thankfully it seems well expressed. I was able to perform more explosive action this time than in films based on reality, which was quite satisfying."
Seo-hyun, who perfectly embodied the exorcist Sharon with a strong presence, stated, "Sharon is a character with a distinctive atmosphere, and styling that leaves a memorable impression on the audience was also important. I had many discussions with the costume and makeup director to create the extravagant outfits that combine elements of both Eastern and Western styles."
Lee Dae-wit, who plays Kim-gun, a multi-player essential to the 'Holy Night' team, brought fun and vitality to the film with his delightful chemistry with Ma Dong-seok. Lee Dae-wit shared, "The atmosphere among the team was great from the first meeting until the last day of shooting. Rather than trying to make things extra fun, it was such a comfortable and entertaining set. I tried to follow closely every time Ma Dong-seok had a new idea." In response, Ma Dong-seok remarked, "Lee Dae-wit has the skill to catch any pitch, whether it's a change-up or a fastball, making it easy to act together. Our chemistry was so in sync that scenes shot without rehearsal felt as if they were scripted. Seo-hyun also contributed to the flow wonderfully. The chemistry within the 'Holy Night' team seems so genuine that it probably shows well in the film."
Kyung Soo-jin, who plays Jung-won, the older sister striving to save her younger sister Eun-seo, became a strong anchor of the film with her wide-ranging emotional performance. She stated, "Jung-won is a character who treated her younger sister like a daughter after their parents passed away. I focused intensely on her desperate desire to save her sister while approaching my character emotionally." She went on to say that while filming, there wasn't an actual younger sister, which is why she interacted with Jeong Ji-so as if they were real siblings.
Jeong Ji-so, who plays Eun-seo, showed a commanding screen presence that made it impossible to look away and bravely portrayed a character possessed by a demon. He expressed, "This is the first time I've played a role possessed by a demon. It's an honor just to participate in the film, and I'm grateful to the director for allowing me to showcase such a cool performance. I can't wait to show it to the audience." Seo-hyun and Jeong Ji-so, who face off against each other as exorcist and possessed, both displayed their affection when asked about their chemistry.
Seo-hyun stated, "Jeong Ji-so was a lovely friend on set. We said we shouldn't hold back and to bring it on during the shoot, and we acted our hearts out. I remember the scenes I did with Jeong Ji-so well; it was a filming site where we could grow together." Jeong Ji-so added, "Seo-hyun told me that giving me the freedom would make the scenes come alive, which created an environment for us to perform well together," continuing to share words of gratitude.
Director Lim Dae-hee, who built the foundation of all these characters and narratives, mentioned that he spent a long time contemplating how to create the unique world of 'Holy Night: Demon Hunters,' which combines occult and action elements. He said, "I meticulously researched occult films and literature. Starting with Ma Dong-seok's character Bau, I created the exorcist Sharon, which combines Eastern and Western elements. While regular exorcism-themed films often depict a one-to-one confrontation between exorcist and possessed, our film expands the worldview to face demons and their worshippers. The character of Kim-gun was naturally crafted using digital devices and data collection skills to combat the vast forces of evil."
Additionally, he noted, "I wanted to show variations in the exorcism stages typically seen in ordinary occult films and to twist the exorcism situations gradually. While many films end with the protagonist's demonization process, this work goes to the extreme, thinking of pushing it all the way. I aimed to create a film that, while having many crises, also does not lose its entertaining fun. I worked hard to make a film that is enjoyable both in sound and visuals, highlighting points that differentiate it from other occult films."
Media outlets that previewed the film 'Holy Night: Demon Hunters' conveyed enthusiastic reviews, igniting the expectations of prospective audiences. They praised it with statements like, "A thrilling occult movie packed with super strong action," "Exorcist punch action that even takes down demons," "Extreme suspense and exorcism are intertwined," "Ma Dong-seok's occult that will dominate the spring theater," "The rediscovery of Jeong Ji-so, who devoured demons, is spine-chilling."
Celebrities who watched the film at the evening screening also poured out vivid reviews, offering overflowing praise. Attendees at the VIP screening included the 'Pig Village' team, BamBam, Kim Hwan-hee, Danny An, Kim Bo-ra, Lee Na-eun, JeA, Kim Jae-kyung, Lee Jung-hyun, Hyo-yeon, Ok Taek-yeon, Jo Yu-ri, Jin Young, and Cha Hak-yeon, adding glamour to the event.
They remarked, "The stress was completely relieved" (BamBam), "It was a film with one punch that completely eased the frustration" (PH-1), "It was refreshing. I felt that Ma Dong-seok's universe is expanding" (Boom), "It had action, exorcism, and was very entertaining. Everything was well mixed in the movie. It's a must-watch" (Kim Bo-ra), "It was a movie filled with spine-chilling moments that made it hard to take my eyes off the screen. I really enjoyed it" (Choi Yu-jung), "It was a film that showcased not only Ma Dong-seok's refreshing action but also Kyung Soo-jin's emotional impact" (Lee Ji-hoon), showing their enthusiastic support.
'Holy Night: Demon Hunters,' praised by media and celebrities who watched the film through the VIP screening and gaining word of mouth as a must-see movie this spring, will be released in theaters on April 30.
[Photo] Lotte Entertainment
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