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DIGITAL

Opening Date

08 May 2025

Rating

NC16 Horror and Some Violence

惊悚及些许暴力画面

Runtime

92 mins

Language

Korean with English & Chinese subtitles

Genre

Action, Fantasy, Thriller

Director

Lim Dae-hee

Cast

Ma Dong-seok, Seohyun, Lee David, Kyung Soo-jin, Jung Ji-so

Synopsis

In a city thrown into chaos by a cult that worships evil, occult action takes place as the dark enforcer team with special powers, Bau, Sharon, and Kim Gun, sets out to eradicate the forces of darkness.

Reviews

By InCinemas 07 May 2025

93 minutes of hellish demon possession and non-stop butt kicking battle between good and evil.

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Holy Night: Demon Hunters is a South Korean action horror hybrid directed by Lim Dae-hee with a line-up of great actors – Ma Dong-seok, Seohyun, David Lee, Kyung Soo-jin and Jung Ji-so in lead roles. Set against the backdrop of Seoul, the film revolves around 'Holy Night', a trio of demon hunters armed with supernatural powers, who are called to save innocent lives from the chaos by a devil-worshipping criminal network.

The first 20 minutes of the film sets the tone with neuropsychiatrist Jung-won (Soo-jin) watching a disturbing recording of a patient exhibiting bizarre behaviour during a MRI procedure to the thrilling rescue of a young girl from the clutches of a demon worshipping group. The demon butt-kicking dynamic trio – helmed by Bow (Dong-seok) with badass exorcist Sharon (Seohyun) and camera-welding Kim Gun (Lee) – is approached by Jung-won to rescue her sister, Eun-seo (Ji-so) who is possessed by a mysterious evil. Despite Bow’s refusal to help, Jung-won leaves behind her recordings of security footage.

Snippets of flashbacks emerge and the audience is given insight into the trio’s past: Bow grew up in an orphanage and was the sole survivor in a tragic incident where all the children in the orphanage are massacred by a demon lord. He emerges with supernatural strength but carries immense guilt, regret and anger from being powerless to prevent the tragedy. Bow saved Sharon and Kim Gun who subsequently joined him in their common war against the devil and his forces. Bow wants to eventually rebuild the orphanage with his share of payment received from clients for rescue missions.

Bow eventually relents and decides to take on the job to rescue Jung-won’s sister. From here on, the thrills and scare factors escalate. The recording of footages on the frightening behaviour of the possessed Eun-seo’s descent to madness sends chills down the spine as it is reminiscent of scenes from The Exorcist (1973). The trio next visits the psychiatric ward where Eun-seo is being held. Sharon’s unsuccessful attempts to identify and exorcise the entity possessing Eun-seo lead to their return to the family home where it all started.

A larger conspiracy soon reveals itself, but the central set piece of the film is a girl strapped to a chair, possessed by a demon, in a house that seems to be haunted. Ji-so does a very convincing job as the possessed Eun-seo, providing the scares in a restrained but effective creepy manner.

In the ensuing terrifying battle to save Eun-seo, the trio discovers secrets and face insurmountable evil, darkness and confront their fears from the past. They must race against time to painstakingly identify and drive out the evil entity from Eun-seoin final “expulsion” stage of exorcism.

Dong-seok as Bow never fail to thrill with his intimidating physique and incredible power punches. Baddies and demons beware. Kudos to Seohyun’s acting chops as Sharon who can sense evil, communicate with demons and exorcise them from the bodies of innocent souls. She is compelling as the badass exorcist, unflinching in the final face-off with the powerful evil adversary. Lee as Kim Gun, the cameraman and sidekick provides well timed comic relief moments. I enjoy the chemistry and dialogue of the demon hunting trio, and I especially love it when Bow was furiously punching to break the door as a way out of the locked room, when Kim Gun daintily pressed a button and the door slides open.

Will they be able to defeat evil and save Eun-seo without sacrificing their own lives? No spoilers here! Catch Holy Night: Demon Hunters in cinemas and be immersed in 93 minutes of hellish demon possession and non-stop butt-kicking battle between good and evil. The film is a fun and entertaining mix-mashed version of The Exorcist and Buffy The Vampire Slayer with Bow as a powerful demon-kicking Korean John Constantine. It is a recommendable watch for fans, young and old, who enjoy the exploration of the supernatural themes, with lots of action-packed fight sequences.
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