Sean Parker
Train to Busan’s breakout badass Don Lee (aka Ma Dong-Seok) continues his action movie hot streak, following up his fourth Roundup franchise film (four more are on the way) with Holy Night: Demon Hunters. A rough and tumble brawler flick with a bit of a genre kick. Lee plays Ba Woo, a niche private investigator endowed with a spiritual gift: the ability to exorcise demons with a divine punch. The local police force occasionally calls upon Ba Woo as Seoul begins to run rampant with a network of devil-worshipping criminals, bringing his support staff exorcist Sharon (Seohyun) and support analyst Kim-kun (David Lee) to document their affairs. Sounds fun, right?
The main story concerns neuropsychiatrist Jung-Won (Kyung Soo-Jin), whose sister Eon-Seo (Jung Ji-So) has begun exhibiting strange and inexplicable behavior. Eon-Seo is hopeful to become a dancer, practicing all day to land her routine, which has Jung-Won worried she may be burning out. One night, Jung Won awakens to find Eon-Seo in an erratic state, skulking around their apartment and causing herself harm. Desperate for answers, Jung-Won puts her through a series of tests where the results are terrifying to say the least. She approaches her colleague, a priest, who points her towards Ba Woo’s agency, but Ba Woo is reluctant to take on Jung-Won’s case, knowing Father Marco (Choi Kwang-il) is involved after a falling out led to his orphaned brother’s death. After some soul-searching, Ba Woo takes Jung-Won’s case, eventually finding that someone is trying to resurrect a powerful entity, and it’s up to this trio of demon hunters to stop them.
Let’s start with Don Lee: I love this guy. Ever since Train to Busan, I look forward to seeing him in everything, including feeling elated at his casting announcement in the MCU’s Eternals as Gilgamesh. Lee is an eighties-level action star caught in a weird decade where action stars aren’t as big as they once were. Lee is a Schwarzenegger-era brawler of the “big muscles and bigger heart” variety, starring as the kind of hero you love seeing onscreen because you can’t help but root for them all the way through. Holy Night: Demon Hunters isn’t any different, and Lee is just as magnetic as ever.
Shifting to the story in Holy Night: Demon Hunters, there’s something left to be desired. Don’t get me wrong, this B-movie actioneer is quite a fun take on the myriad of possession films out there that all seem to rehash the same basic concepts of the subgenre. Subversively, Holy Night: Demon Hunters is a far different attempt, falling more on the Blade and End of Days style of horror, packing one hell of a punch whenever Ba Woo, Sharon, and Kim-Kun need to use their fists and abilities in a situation.
However, the story itself is a little disconnected. The film attempts a lot of exposition when it starts, bogging down the first half hour with backstory after backstory. The pace and flow of the film are a little stymied during this period as director Lim Dae-Hee jostles between action sequences, a found footage horror sequence, and Ba Woo’s history, all while creating a sandbox for these events to occur. At times, it genuinely seems like we’re referencing a whole other film at the beginning of Holy Night: Demon Hunters, that I had to make sure it wasn’t a sequel to another Holy Night entry – and this film is built for sequels and spin-offs, should the opportunity arise.
This is Lim Dae-Hee’s directorial debut, and as such, I have to say it’s a pretty terrific first endeavor. There’s always a learning curve in just getting these productions off the ground, not to mention the unforeseen challenges of each day. Yet, having a premise that infuses rollicking action sequences into some blood-curdling horror moments certainly helps make people want to see your film, and that’s half the battle. While Holy Night: Demon Hunters isn’t perfect, it does craft a few unforgettable scenes, which is a lot more than most directors in Dae-Hee’s position. The found footage sequence is absolutely incredible, as Jung-Won records her sister’s demonic night escapades, and another scene with a single truck ripping through broken-down cars on a busy road superbly creates high tension by turning the lights off in the middle of the street.
I would also like to highlight Jung Ji-So’s performance, who does a fantastic job supplying a supremely frightening performance as the possessed Eun-Seo. Her juxtapositions between he trapped soul and raging demon are so fantastically volatile, you can’t help but appreciate the performance. Add in the incredible makeup transformation Ji-So undergoes by the end of the film, and horror fans will be utterly captivated by the actress whenever she appears on screen.
Overall, Holy Night: Demon Hunters isn’t the kind of horror or action title that will dominate charts, but there’s a lot of imagination, ingenuity, and originality on display that makes for an entertaining watch, if you can make it through that slightly arduous first half hour. The CGI effects aren’t anything special either, but they are better than your average indie flick. Regardless, I remain certain that Don Lee films are pure entertainment, and Holy Night: Demon Hunters is an undeniably good time despite its missteps.
Holy Night: Demon Hunters is currently in theaters.
HOLY NIGHT: DEMON HUNTERS | Trailer (English subs)
NOW PLAYING IN THEATERS (North America) Starring Don Lee as Bau, the leader of a secret team known as Holy Night, that hunts down demon-worshipping cults threatening Seoul. Alongside Sharon (Seohyun), who can detect and exorcise demons, and Kim-kun (David Lee), their tactical support, the team faces a rising evil.
