Dark Nuns (2025): A modern korean exorcism
2025 • Kwon Hyeok-jae • 1.66:1 • Jump to Gallery ↓
Directed by Kwon Hyeok-jae, Dark Nuns is a spin-off of The Priests. The film follows two nuns who attempt to save a young boy suffering from severe demonic possession, confronting both supernatural forces and institutional resistance in the process. As the Church hesitates to authorise intervention, the nuns are forced to take increasingly dangerous unofficial action.
Building on the religious horror framework of the original film, this one explores a less frequently examined path within a traditionally male-dominated genre by shifting to a female-centred point of view. This perspective introduces an additional layer of institutional critique while retaining the genre’s core iconography. Dim, candlelit interiors and ecclesiastical architecture emphasise atmosphere over spectacle, in keeping with classical exorcism narratives.
Dark Nuns relies on its central performances to convey conviction, sustaining a restrained tone through a slow, controlled build-up that culminates in the expected ritual, where the horror reaches its peak. As a continuation of The Priests, the film expands its universe and mythology by shifting perspective while maintaining the established narrative structure of the genre.
Technical Specs:
- The Story: Two nuns defy church authority to perform a forbidden exorcism on a possessed boy, confronting a powerful evil spirit and their own inner demons. Read my review of Dark Nuns.
- Actors: Song Hye-kyo, Jeon Yeo-been, Lee Jin-wook, Moon Woo-jin, Huh Joon-ho, Kim Gook-hee, Shin Jae-hwi, Gang Dong-won
- Director: Kwon Hyeok-jae
- Year: 2025
- Cinematographer: Choi Chan-min
- Origin: Korean Cinema
- Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
- Genre: Horror & Supernatural
