InterviewMa Dong-seok channels dark hero energy in ‘Holy Night: Demon Hunters’

Actor Ma Dong-seok / Courtesy of Lotte Entertainment

Actor and producer Ma Dong-seok, best known for his bone-crunching action in the "The Roundup" series, is set to captivate audiences once again, this time venturing into the occult with his latest film, "Holy Night: Demon Hunters."

In the movie, Ma plays Bau, a formidable troubleshooter using his fists to exorcise demons as a leader of the “Holy Night” team. The 54-year-old actor expressed his enthusiasm for the project, highlighting the action sequences made possible by the film’s fantasy elements.

"I put a lot of effort into the action sequences, and the fantasy genre allowed for a more impactful and refreshing result," he told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul on Thursday. He also shared his satisfaction in supporting the debut of director Lim Dae-hee.

While working on the highly anticipated next installments in "The Roundup," with at least one expected to film next year, Ma focused on the unique aspects of "Holy Night: Demon Hunters." He highlighted the emphasis on impactful sound and action best experienced in theaters.

"With the absolute decrease in theater attendance, for people to come to the cinema, the movie has to be entertaining," Ma explained. "We put a lot of effort into the sound and the impact, things audiences can't fully experience on TV."

Drawing inspiration from dark hero narratives like Marvel Comics "Venom" and late Japanese cartoonist Kentaro Miura’s "Berserk," Ma aimed to create a distinctly Korean take on the genre. "I wondered how the movie would be if we combined these dark hero narratives with our own style," he said.

Expanding on the world-building of "Holy Night: Demon Hunters," Ma talk about creating a larger universe with various backstories and fantasy elements. Rather than reveal everything in the film, they opted to showcase a part of it, with the remaining narrative currently unfolding in an online comic. While future film installments are not currently planned, Ma hinted at the possibility of exploring more stories through comics or novels.

"Holy Night: Demon Hunters" centers on the battle against evil led by the exorcist Sharon (Seohyun), with Bau as her powerful support.

Actor Ma Dong-seok in a scene from "Holy Night: Demon Hunters" / Courtesy of Lotte Entertainment

Ma also highlighted his interest in diverse genres beyond action, including horror and even a movie about a heavy metal band. However, he acknowledged that audiences currently associate him with his signature action hero persona.

"As long as I'm doing action movies, I think I'll have to carry the 'Ma Dong-seok' character to some extent," he said, while emphasizing his efforts to bring variety to his action roles across different projects.

Ma likened his situation to that of his idol, Jackie Chan, where any film starring him is inherently perceived as a "Jackie Chan movie," regardless of the specific role.

"I'm not like an orchestra that can play many instruments. I can only play my one instrument. So, I think some familiarity is unavoidable. However, I'm trying to bring variation by showcasing different genres and approaches within my work,” Ma said.

Ma also pointed out that Bau exhibits a different dimension compared to his previous characters, showcasing vulnerability and sadness stemming from his past.

“The fact that Bau is half-demon is hinted at visually in the film, with the full backstory being explored in the prequel webtoon due to time constraints in the movie,” he said.

Ma praised the performances of Seohyun, Jung Ji-so and the entire cast, highlighting Seohyun's transformation into a character starkly different from her usual upright image.

"Seohyun acted so well. Movies with a lot of emotional scenes are always very difficult, and movies with a lot of action are like battlefields. Actors can get hurt with just a small mistake. I even broke my nose after getting hit by a fist, so it's a little bit crooked now. I'm so grateful to Seohyun for doing such a great job, also from the perspective of a producer,” he said.

“Holy Night: Demon Hunters” will be released in theaters Wednesday.