The Priests (Hangul: ?? ???; RR: Geomeun Sajedeul; lit. "Black Priests") is a 2015 South Korean supernatural mystery thriller film written and directed by Jang Jae-hyun, based on his award-winning short film 12th Assistant Deacon.
The Priests | |
---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
Hangul | ?? ??? |
Hanja | ?? ??? |
Revised Romanization | Geomeun sajaedeul |
McCune–Reischauer | K?m?n sache*lt?l |
Directed by | Jang Jae-hyun |
Produced by | Baek Ji-sun Song Dae-chan Oh Hyo-jin Lee Yoo-jin |
Written by | Jang Jae-hyun |
Based on | 12th Assistant Deacon by Jang Jae-hyun |
Starring | Kim Yoon-seok Gang Dong-won |
Music by | Kim Tae-seong |
Cinematography | Go Nak-sun |
Edited by | Shin Min-kyung |
Production company | Zip Cinema |
Distributed by | CJ Entertainment |
Release date |
|
Running time | 108 minutes |
Country | South Korea |
Language | Korean |
Box office | US$36.9 million |
Screenplay
A young girl who belongs to Father Kim's parish becomes comatose after a hit-and-run accident. Father Kim finds out she is possessed by an evil spirit. Father Kim along with a rebellious young seminarian named Choi who is unsure about the spiritual warfare, tries to exorcise the demon and confine it in a piglet. Members of rosicrucianism inform Father Kim that two of their priests were killed by this demon. During the exorcism, manifestations of the demon terrifies, one of them being developing unnatural rashes all over the body, Choi initially runs out halfway through the exorcism attempt, but eventually decides to return, determined to finish what they started. Father Kim tells him to believe this ministry isn't in vain and the reward is in the Lord’s hand (Isaiah 49:4). Choi replies to it by quoting Ezekiel 2:6, and affirms he is prepared now. When they try to free the girl from demon's powerful hold, they realize that the demon they are facing is an ancient one named Malphas and is far more dangerous than they ever thought. However, they manage to confine it in the piglet, but the police arrive and tries to arrest them for killing Young-shin from complaint by extremely traumatized parents. Choi runs out with the pig, faces many obstructions but successfully drowns it in the river as instructed by Kim (Luke 8:33). Young-shin who was considered dead shows signs of life, and Father Kim's and Brother Choi's rashes disappears.
- Kim Yoon-seok as Father Kim
- Gang Dong-won as Deacon Choi
- Park So-dam as Young-shin
- Kim Eui-sung as Dean of clergy
- Son Jong-hak as Monsignor
- Lee Ho-jae as Father Jeong
- Nam Il-woo as Abbot
- Kim Byeong-ok as Professor Park
- Cho Soo-hyang as Agnes
- Park Woong as Bishop
- Lee Jeong-yeol as Young-shin's father
- Kim So-sook as Young-shin's mother
- Jeong Ha-dam as Shaman Young-joo
- Kim Soo-jin as Father Kim's younger sister
- Don-Don the pig as the Pig
The film was number-one on its opening weekend, with ?13 billion. By its third weekend, the film had grossed ?35 billion at the South Korean box office.
Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | 25th Buil Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Park So-dam | Won |
Best New Actress | Nominated | |||
37th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Won | ||
Best New Director | Jang Jae-hyun | Nominated | ||
Best Editing | Sin Min-kyeong | Nominated | ||
Best Music | Kim Tae-seong | Nominated | ||
Technical Awards | Baek Sang-hoon-I (Visual effects) | Nominated |