Dark Nuns

Kwon Hyeok-jae's Dark Nuns isn't just another exorcism thriller. It defies the usual trappings of demon-possession films, avoiding cheap jump scares and excessive CGI in favour of something far more unsettling: a slow-burning, visually arresting battle between faith and reason, male dominance and defiance, belief and doubt.

Officially a spin-off of 2015's The Priests, directed by Jang Hyun, this South Korean drama-exorcism film finds its strength in haunting cinematography, layered storytelling, and some truly gripping performances-most notably from Song Kyo in one of her most commanding roles yet.

The film follows Sister Giunia (Song Hye-Kyo) and Sister Michela (Jeon Yeo-been), two nuns who embark on a perilous exorcism that is as much about confronting deep-seated institutional sexism as it is about driving out a malevolent force.

Dark Nuns stands apart by fusing Catholic rituals, Korean shamanism, and tarot mysticism into an intricate web of spiritual warfare, making it more than just a battle against demonic possession - it's a reckoning with centuries of patriarchal control over both the religious and medical realms.

The chemistry between Song Hye-kyo and Jeon Yeo-been is electric. As Sister Giunia, Song commands the screen with raw intensity, portraying a nun whose faith is unwavering yet deeply personal. She is unafraid to challenge authority, even as she faces forces - both human and supernatural - that seek to silence her.

Meanwhile, Jeon Yeo-been's Sister Michela begins as a sceptic, rejecting Giunia's methods outright. However, as terrifying visions consume her, she turns to the ancient art of tarot to make sense of her reality.

What starts as opposition slowly morphs into an uneasy alliance as the two women navigate an exorcism unlike any before.

Beyond its thematic depth, Dark Nuns is visually stunning. The cinematography drenches every frame in a moody, gothic beauty, where candlelit corridors and looming cathedrals create an atmosphere thick with tension.

The set design is meticulous, enhancing the film's eerie realism, while the sound design - whispers in the dark, the crackle of tarot cards, the deep echoes of sacred chants - ensures an immersive experience.

What makes Dark Nuns truly compelling is its exploration of faith and reason, never offering easy answers.

In a world where religion and medicine are often at odds, the film dares to ask: must they be? Or can they coexist in a larger, divine plan?

By the time the final act arrives - harrowing, thought-provoking, and beautifully ambiguous - one thing is certain: Dark Nuns is a refreshing, sophisticated take on the exorcism genre, proving that true horror lies not just in the supernatural, but in the very institutions that shape our understanding of good and evil.

Went in with somewhat higher expectation because having watched Korean series and movies since the 2000's, very familiar with the female lead Song Hye Kyo and that's also how long she has been in the industry. Have to say that Dark Nuns is only her second venture into darker roles, first one being The Glory. Because she is too pretty she had always been previously offered roles as well, a beautiful woman in melodramas. Not entirely her fault because actors often don't get cast for more gritty roles because they're "too beautiful/delicate".

Having said that, Dark Nuns makes me want to see The Priests (2015) and compare both to see how good was the source and how good the sequel fares.

The story is nothing new, two nuns this time instead of priests doing everything they can to save a possessed boy. In my opinion Song still seems too delicate for the role of an exorcist strong enough to hold down the possessed and her decades of good girl image doesn't help, but I think she has potential to someday be a badass character.

Visuals of the movie was fine but with mediocre CGI on one scene. Jeon Yeo Been shines brighter here than in Vincenzo. Just a bit bothered by the idea of "divine powers ultimate combo" to ward off the pesky demon. Doesn't work like that.

Overall a decent watch. Definitely watch it if you're a fan of SHK to encourage future grittier, bad girl role pick from her.

Finally a truly biased last part: giving an otherwise 7 star rating an extra 1 star to support the hallyu queen, and so happy to see Dark Nuns does well while Bogota, Loh Ki Wan and Hopeless flop miserably, ha! If you know, you know!

I don't understand what's the movie was all about?! It was super boring and long and not scarry at all. The plot is just blah and nothing's good about this movie, so irrelevant, I can't stop hoping it will end soon, this is another movie after Joker 2 that I feel like nonsense and just blah in every scene. They wanted to make this nun look cool but they just making her like a stress woman who wanted to beat demon hahahahaha! Oh man... I thought Korean movies are always good. They are better in making zombie movies or sad movies. And that kid in the movie, why was he so special that he got possesed so bad?! So many whys in this movie, my teenager son were sleeping during the movies.

For those of you who don't know, this is a spin-off of the movie The Priests from 2015, so I watched that one right before going into Dark Nuns. It was refreshing to see an exorcism movie from South Korea, and while the performances and overall execution were solid, I couldn't help but feel a little bored due to the tame approach. I'm used to the over-the-top Western executions of these kinds of movies.

The same applies to Dark Nuns, which takes a more sophisticated approach to the exorcism genre and doesn't try to entertain the audience with exaggerated possession scenes or cheap jump scares. The storytelling takes center stage in this film. However, I have to say that the story really dragged. The characters are not particularly interesting, and the movie contains many scenes that could have been cut in the editing room without affecting the outcome.

I'm getting tired of these two-hour-long movies, especially when they don't really justify their length. The performances were good, and the overall production quality was decent, aside from some CGI rats toward the end. The connection to The Priests was very brief and probably wouldn't have had much impact if I hadn't seen the original beforehand.

Overall, it's definitely a watchable film, but we've seen better from South Korea.

[5.2/10]

First of all, Song Hye-kyo delivers a great performance. Jeon Yeo-been also excels in portraying the Catholic nun who is skeptical about exorcism and has a robotic personality. In fact, Jeon manages to balance Song Hye-kyo's performance, bringing a strong dynamic between the two.

Beyond the duo of sisters, Moon Woo-jin as Hee-joon also shows potential as a promising actor for the future.

I really enjoyed the movie. I did. The last scenes where they'r doing the rite, is one of the most convincing exorcism scene. There are somethings missing tho, like the background of the evil and Sister Yunia.