logo
Holy Night: Demon Hunters movie review – Ma Dong-seok in tiring Korean action horror

Holy Night: Demon Hunters movie review – Ma Dong-seok in tiring Korean action horror

2/5 stars
Advertisement
Supernatural thriller Holy Night: Demon Hunters might better have been titled 'Ma Dong-seok: Demon Puncher'. This lowbrow exercise in low-rent exorcism offers little more than the hulking Korean superstar, also known as Don Lee, throwing down against an assortment of sketchily drawn spirits.
Produced and co-written by
Ma together with first-time director Lim Dae-hee, the film is the latest, and certainly weakest, in a string of recent Korean horror titles that delve into the dark realm of demonic possession.
While a smattering of intriguing ideas are brought to the altar, they are immediately abandoned in a final product that pales next to the likes of box office hit
Exhuma , or even the underwhelming
Dark Nuns
Kang Bow (Ma) runs the detective-agency-style outfit 'Holy Night', together with exorcist Sharon (Seohyun) and rookie/cameraman Kim Gun (Lee David), which specialises in bizarre and otherworldly cases that the police cannot solve.
Advertisement
They are approached by psychiatrist Jung-won (Gyeong Su-jin) after her medical expertise fails to stop the psychotic episodes of her younger sister Eun-seo (Jung Ji-so).

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Maestro Tan Dun champions Hong Kong's unique art and cultural diversity on the mainland and abroad
Maestro Tan Dun champions Hong Kong's unique art and cultural diversity on the mainland and abroad

time2 hours ago

Maestro Tan Dun champions Hong Kong's unique art and cultural diversity on the mainland and abroad

[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] Tan Dun, the Oscar-winning composer, world-renowned musician, and conductor has empowered Hong Kong's young talents by providing them with global platforms, nurturing artists who are both technically proficient and engaged in international artistic dialogues since his appointment as Hong Kong's Ambassador for Cultural Promotion. 'Hong Kong is a city where Eastern and Western cultures converge. My goal is to bring the city's vibrant arts and culture to the world's most prestigious stages, ensuring that Hong Kong's voice is heard globally,' Tan says. 'I lead young Hong Kong artists in collaborations with top orchestras and directors worldwide. Meanwhile, it is also vital that the city's artistic identity remains deeply connected to its roots. That is why I guide young artists in exploring and sharing the most authentic and traditional aspects of Chinese culture.' His mentorship of young Hong Kong artists underscores his commitment to expanding the city's cultural influence. Recent initiatives include 'High Mountains and Glaciers,' performed in Shanghai for UNESCO's World Water Day in March 2025, featuring percussionist Karen Yu; and the 'Tea' opera in Fuzhou with Yu, percussionist Elise Liu, and bass-baritone Apollo Wong. Soprano Candice Chung was starred in the 'Tan Dun Earth Day – Tea Garden Opera Festival' in Yunnan this April and will perform Tan's 'Nature's Requiem' with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and the Radio France Choir in July. 'Échos des grottes de Mogao à Paris' at the Guimet - National Museum of Asian Arts in France. The experience is rewarding for Hong Kong artists. Liu views the WE-Festival as an opportunity to reinforce Hong Kong's identity as an 'East-meets-West' cultural hub. 'We fuse Western instruments with Chinese percussion traditions,' she Chung, Tan's guidance has elevated her artistry. 'In my solo performances of 'Deer of Nine Colours' across the mainland and abroad, I portrayed four roles in 20 minutes—a challenging feat I've mastered,' she says. Chung adds that performing with different world-class orchestras allows her to deliver unique experiences to audiences. She also took part in a performance staged at Paris's Guimet - National Museum of Asian Arts in December 2024. 2024: A Fruitful Year

SCMP Best Bets: Fortress a fabulous chance for punters at the Valley
SCMP Best Bets: Fortress a fabulous chance for punters at the Valley

time5 hours ago

SCMP Best Bets: Fortress a fabulous chance for punters at the Valley

Sam Agars PRESTIGE GOOD - R5 (1) Seems to like the Valley mile and can break through here Jay Rooney FLYING FORTRESS - R7 (5) In top form and just needs an ounce of luck from the draw to go close Trackwork Spy TACTICAL COMMAND - R6 (3) Can take advantage of an overdue good barrier and return to winning form Phillip Woo SPICY GOLD - R9 (3) Boasts sterling Happy Valley form and can win another here HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. Shannon (Vincent Wong) PRESTIGE GOOD - R5 (1) Has been knocking on the door and can produce a win tonight Racing Post Online FLYING FORTRESS - R7 (5) Not beaten far over C&D last start and should go close again Tom Wood FLYING FORTRESS - R7 (5) Very consistent and looks another genuine winning hope tonight

China pop idol live-streams sale of own sanitary pad brand, earns US$3 million in half an hour
China pop idol live-streams sale of own sanitary pad brand, earns US$3 million in half an hour

time9 hours ago

China pop idol live-streams sale of own sanitary pad brand, earns US$3 million in half an hour

Chinese billionaire heir Huang Zitao has live-streamed the sale of his own sanitary pad brand in a bid to rebuild trust after recent product safety scandals rocked the country. Advertisement The 32-year-old pop star and actor from Shandong province in eastern China trained in South Korea and inherited an estimated US$3 billion after his father, one of China's richest men, passed away in 2020. Known for his outspoken personality and love for his wife, singer Xu Yiyang, Huang has gained more than 66 million followers on mainland social media. In March, several Chinese sanitary pad factories were exposed for repackaging and reselling used pads and baby nappies at inflated prices. Huang Zitao says his team has invested US$40 million to build the sanitary pad brand which is promoted and sold during live streams. Photo: Douyin/Weibo Outraged, Huang called the practice 'disgusting' and pledged to launch his own factory to make pads women could trust.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store