Summary

• Exhuma is a top 2024 movie by Mike Flanagan, known for its smart writing, performances, and effects in the Korean horror genre.
• Exhuma has broken records in South Korea and Asia, blending traditional cultural elements with modern horror sensibilities.
• Korean horror, like Exhuma, offers captivating stories with international appeal, combining depth and atmosphere over jump scares.

Mike Flanagan is arguably among this generation's most influential horror directors, with a string of Netflix successes and widely loved films under his belt. So, when the Fall of the House of Usher filmmaker makes a Letterboxd list of his favorite movies of 2024 (so far), it provides a fascinating insight into what moves and inspires him. While his list of favorites only contains four movies to date, Flanagan has included a record-breaking South Korean horror film that's been making waves across Asia.

As a modern horror master, Mike Flanagan's recommendation when it comes to other entries in the genre is difficult to ignore. Beyond Fall of the House of Usher, the 46-year-old has also behind the hit series The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass, as well as movies like Doctor Sleep. Other films that made Flanagan's list of his favorite movies of 2024 (so far) include Alex Garland's dystopian thriller, Civil War, Luca Guadagnino's romantic sports drama, Challengers, and another supernatural horror, The First Omen. However, it is the South Korean entry that is perhaps the most interesting.

Why Mike Flanagan Counts South Korean Horror Exhuma As A Top 2024 Movie

The Director Praises Its "Smart Writing, Good Performances" And "Terrific Effects"

Exhuma is a psychological horror starring Oldboy actor, Choi Min-sik, and Kim Go-eun, who is known for her roles in K-dramas. The movie tells the story of a team of elite paranormal specialists (Choi, Kim, and Sweet Home's Lee Do-hyun) whose expertise is requested by a wealthy family who have been the subject of disturbing recent supernatural events. The team traces these events to the family's ancestral grave site, and upon relocating the remains, they unearth more than they bargained for.

Exhuma is available to stream on Apple TV+, AMC+, and Shudder.

Exhuma draws its influence from Korean history and supernatural lore, delving into deep national traumas and shamanistic practices to tell its gripping, mind-bending story. Flanagan's Letterboxd review of Exhuma is brief, but it expresses what has made the Korean film such a success. He writes:

I really dug this (see what I did there)

OLDBOY's Choi Min-Sik leads the cast in this ambitious Korean horror film about exhuming the wrong grave, and the ghastly consequences. What seems like a straight forward twist on an exorcism/possession movie has more up its sleeve, though, and was much larger in scope than I anticipated. Smart writing, good performances, and some terrific effects elevate this ghost story into something far more modern and original than I expected.

Recommended.

Exhuma is not the first Korean film to make the filmmaker's year-end favorites. Flanagan's best of 2023 list includes Celine Song's romantic drama, Past Lives, and the dramatic documentary about North Korea, Beyond Utopia. However, given his horror background, his recognition of Exhuma is particularly exciting.

Exhuma Is Already Breaking Korean Cinema Records

It's Also The Most Successful Korean Film In Vietnam And Indonesia

Although its reception in Western countries has been more restrained than it should be, Exhuma has been a huge hit in South Korea and across Asia. It's currently the highest-grossing Korean film of 2024 and the sixth highest-grossing domestic film in South Korean history, beating out both Train To Busan and Parasite. It has also quickly become the most successful Korean film in both Vietnam and Indonesia.

The film's writer and director, Jang Jae-hyun, masterfully weaves a narrative that combines intense suspense with emotional moments.

Exhuma's success can be largely attributed to its unique blend of traditional Korean cultural and historical elements with modern horror sensibilities. The film's writer and director, Jang Jae-hyun, masterfully weaves a narrative that combines intense suspense with emotional moments. The haunting score by Kim Tae-seong, whose credits include some of Korea's most popular films and Kdramas, such as The Roundup, 1987: When the Day Comes, Sky Castle, and Gyeongseong Creature, add additional depth to the film's chilling visuals. Critics have praised Exhuma for its ability to intertwine cultural and historical commentary with horror, making it both thrilling and thought-provoking.

Exhuma Deserves To Be Horror's Next International Breakout Hit

This Is Korean Horror At Its Best

Korean horror has a strong reputation in international circles for producing high-quality and atmospherically rich films that don't rely on the usual tropes of jump-scares and gimmicks that often plague other movies within the genre. In both TV and film, Korean horror frequently merges bigger concepts into its storytelling, adding depth to the often disturbing narratives and visuals. Whether it's more action-packed films like Train to Busan, slow-burn horror like The Wailing, or intense psychological thrillers like I Saw the Devil, Korean horror delivers captivating stories with broad international appeal.

Exhuma is the perfect blend of all the elements there are to love about Korean horror. It helps to know a little about Korea's modern history to make the most of your experience watching the film, but it's not necessary. That's what's so great about Korean horror movies like Exhuma. There are multiple layers to it, making it an exceptional watch regardless of your knowledge or background – even if you're not a horror expert like Mike Flanagan.

Sources: Letterboxd