Boo! It’s spooky season y’all. Pumpkins are gracing everyone’s doorsteps, and Halloween night is almost upon us. October is the perfect time to click off the lights and cozy up to a movie that’ll give you a good chill down your spine.
For ghosts, shamans, supernatural beings, and things that go bump in the night, these four movie recommendations are for your next spooky movie marathon.
Heads up: Ratings for how scary each movie is given for reference, but these are subjective!
1. “The Divine Fury“
“The Divine Fury” is a supernatural thriller that’s similar in concept to U.S. films like “Constantine” or the K-drama “Island.” It follows a hotheaded MMA fighter, Yong Hoo (Park Seo Joon), whose newfound supernatural abilities throw him into a hidden world of dark magic, exorcisms, and occults. As the chosen one, Yong Hoo has to decide whether he’ll join the fight for the light or the dark. Though he’d rather not join at all, it isn’t really an option.
If you get a kick out of the lore of dark magic, angels versus demons, and supernatural priests, this will definitely deliver.
Scary level: 3/10
“The Divine Fury” isn’t too scary. It’s more mystery and action than horror. There are even some splashes of humor thrown in there to lighten the overall dark tone of the film. The creepy black magic and exorcisms though — that’s probably when the goosebumps will come out.
Watch “The Divine Fury” now:
2. “Exhuma”
In “Exhuma,” a skilled shaman, Lee Hwa Rim (Kim Go Eun), is hired to solve the mystery behind a family’s ill newborn child. With the suspicion that the illness has to do with a family member’s grave, Hwa Rim gathers a team to find the gravesite and exhume the body. When they do locate the grave and perform a ritual, that’s when things start taking a turn. Twists and mysteries from the past unfold, and the group realizes they’ve gotten more than what they signed up for.
“Exhuma” was one of the most popular Korean films to come out this year, and its 100 percent deserved. Kim Go Eun, having played in other horror films like “Monster,” really suits this role!
Scary level: 6/10
This one definitely inches more toward horror compared to the others on this list. Expect some potentially disturbing scenes, gore, and a couple of jump scares. It’s overall cold, gloomy atmosphere throughout really plays on the slow-burn buildup of the show’s unsettling mystery.
Watch “Exhuma” now:
3. “Dr. Cheon and the Lost Talisman“
“Dr. Cheon and the Last Talisman” definitely gives off “Ghostbusters” vibes. Dr. Cheon, played by Kang Dong Won, has a medical license but works as a fake shaman, only halfway following in the footsteps of his famous shaman grandfather. His assistant, In Bae (Lee Dong Hwi), is his partner in crime, setting up tricks to fool their desperate clients.
One night, a mysterious woman asks for their help, and they end up in a creepy ghost town where everyone is rushing to leave.
The two partners think they are about to perform another fake exorcism and run with the money, but it turns out this case is not only real but connected to a tragedy in Dr. Cheon’s past.
Scary level: 1.5/10
This one is the least scary of the bunch, but it’s still a fun one to watch for lighthearted and wholesome spookiness. As a supernatural take on shamanism lore, you’ll see some evil spirits and a ghost or two, but nothing worth covering your eyes over. It’s got a good dose of comedy too.
Watch “Dr. Cheon and the Lost Talisman” now:
4. “The Labyrinth“
High school is scary in its own right, but in this case, there’s a bit more to be scared about.
In “The Labyrinth,” Hee Min (SF9’s Chani) is the reluctant successor of a powerful shaman (seeing a theme here?). When he transfers to a new high school, he immediately develops a crush on his classmate So Young (Park Yoo Na). Little does he know, So Young is connected to a tragedy shrouded in mystery that has happened at the school. That’s when the ominous crows and shifting shadows start coming out.
What could have been a cute school romance quickly turns dark when Hee Min discovers the school is haunted by ghosts and entangled with multiple shamans. On one fateful night, he must team up with the daughter of the shaman and fight off the things lurking in the dark to help his crush.
Scary level: 3/10
This one gets its score mostly from all the jump scares and creepy creatures. It’s an exciting sort of scary, with minimal gore, likely a reflection of the film being geared more toward a younger audience. The movie ultimately revolves around a single night where a group of students have to survive their ghost-infested school. Many watchers feel it has a similar vibe to “All of Us Are Dead,” except it replaces the zombies with evil spirits and ghosts. Most of the film’s color palette is very blue and dark, so that adds to the spooky feel.
Watch “The Labyrinth” now:
What are you watching to get into the spooky season? What movies do you recommend for this time of year? Let us know in the comments down below!
Asya’s a BL-biased Soompi writer with a love of K-pop and all types of Asian dramas. Some of her favorite shows are “Psychopath Diary,” “Mr. Unlucky Has No Choice but to Kiss!,” “Light On Me,” “The Untamed,” “Go Go Squid!,” and “Cherry Magic!”
Currently watching: “First Note of Love,” “Love is a Poison,” “Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo,” “Eccentric Romance,” and “Sell Your Hunted House.”
Looking forward to: “Your Sky the Series” and “See Your Love”