The irreplaceable action star Ma Dong-seok and occult enthusiast director Lim Dae-hee have created the occult action film 'Holy Night: Demon Hunters' (provided/distributed by Lotte Entertainment | produced by Big Punch Pictures, Nova Film | screenplay/director: Lim Dae-hee), which revealed its production behind-the-scenes.
Ma Dong-seok, who has built his own irreplaceable universe with fist action in various works, challenged the occult genre for the first time with 'Holy Night: Demon Hunters' and showcased more powerful and exhilarating action. Ma Dong-seok and director Lim Dae-hee focused on creating stronger action scenes to express the exorcist fists of 'Bau' (Ma Dong-seok), who has been granted special powers. Director Lim Dae-hee noted that they continuously contemplated how to create the boundary between realism and fantasy, while director Heo Myung-hyeong worked on implementing 'powerful and speedy movements' and filling in 'aspects that could incorporate fantasy' to differentiate from Ma Dong-seok's previous works. Care was also taken with the reactions of demon worshipers receiving the overwhelming power of 'Bau.' By employing wire action that amplifies the power to the point of feeling refreshing, they broadened the scope of the action and completed scenes that are visually compelling and cathartic.
In art, the unique occult worldview of 'Holy Night: Demon Hunters' is vividly revealed. Director Lim Dae-hee stated that he blended Eastern and Western elements and incorporated cinematic imagination to build a differentiated worldview. Art director Lee Jae-sung worked hard to create a mysterious atmosphere using dark tones and patterns suitable for the concept of the occult. In terms of spatial design, they maximized the use of an open structure that could highlight the action sequences, and the spaces where each character operates reflected distinct personalities and atmospheres. The office for 'Holy Night' is set on the second floor of a building located in an old antique shopping area, under the premise that it exists nearby but is not easily noticeable, and the interior also fully reflects the personalities and roles of the characters. In 'Bau's' room, there are a large heavy sandbag and exercise equipment, while 'Sharon's' (Seo Hyun) room is filled with various Eastern and Western props used for exorcism. Especially, the exorcism tools were designed based on actual props from Korea’s gutgut ritual. 'Kim-gun's' (Lee Da-wit) room is packed with computers and various digital devices, and on one wall, there are photos and maps tracking evil forces, along with notes from research on demons and worshipers.
The styling by costume director Nam Ji-soo, which reflects the characteristics of the characters in the work, adds visual enjoyment. 'Bau,' who has special powers but an ordinary appearance, is highlighted with a comfortable sports zip-up in saturated red and blue colors. 'Sharon' uses dressy fabrics with a lot of purple and cool blue tones to project her mysterious abilities into her outfit, adding traditional Korean gourd decorations for harmony between Eastern and Western styles. During exorcisms, she adds a white hairpiece to create a mystical and strong impression, resembling a witch from the West. The characters 'Kim-gun' and 'Jung-won' (Kyung Soo-jin) primarily adopt utility clothing with many pockets and loose-fitting outfits to emphasize practicality and activity. 'Eun-seo' (Jeong Ji-soo) is intuitively expressed through the degree of makeup, such as the representation of veins and skin peeling, depicting her gradual consumption by demons. When the 'Holy Night' team conducts the full exorcism rituals, they wear white dresses, which signify pure souls that remain untarnished regardless of mixed colors.
In creating the demon worshipers, detail was not overlooked. They utilized chains and metal decorations as focal points and added a setting for demonic markings that become visible under light to enhance the occult elements. The markings were borrowed from the pictographic script in Longolongo, which has not been fully deciphered to this day, aligning with the concept of a symbol exclusive to the worshipers. The worshipers' costumes varied by stage. The appearance of worshipers before becoming demons looks like that of ordinary people but hides demonic markings behind their ears. The worshipers, possessing powers surpassing those of humans, are designed in cloaks and hooded garments that cover their entire bodies to stimulate the imagination, while the higher-level worshipers chose red colors to emphasize their strong powers.
'Holy Night: Demon Hunters,' a film that presents overwhelming entertainment through a powerful production that encompasses both the occult and action, is currently screening nationwide.
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