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| From left, actors Lee Sung-min, Nam Da-reum, Kim Yoo-jung, Park Hae-joon and Kim Dong-young pose during an online press conference for "The 8th Night," Monday. Courtesy of Netflix |
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Netflix's new occult thriller "The 8th Night" shows that not only Catholic priests, but Buddhist monks too have the power to exorcise demons, according to the filmmaker.
During a press conference for the film on Monday, director Kim Tae-hyung, who is making his feature directorial debut with "The 8th Night," explained the hidden meaning behind the film's title.
"The title carries several meanings. The story unfolds during the space of eight days and implies that something will happen on the eighth night. Moreover, the number 8 becomes an infinity symbol when it's turned sideways. This signifies the concept of eternity, karma and fate," he said.
The upcoming film follows retired exorcist Jin-su (Lee Sung-min) who returns to work alongside a young monk named Chung-seok (Nam Da-reum) and detective Ho-tae (Park Hae-joon) to stop two demonic spirits. The team must stop the demons within eight days before they destroy the world.
Kim shared that the idea was derived from the Diamond Sutra, one of the most influential Mahayana Buddhist scriptures in East Asia. "As you can guess from the setting and characters, the film embodies Buddhist philosophy," he said.
Actor Lee said he had insatiable curiosity about shamanism and the spiritual world. "My character has the ability to sense the unseen and unknown world, so it felt like stepping into another world. Because the concept was so new to me, I had to consult with a shaman and a monk to get ideas on how to play the character. I also learned Sanskrit," he said.
On how "The 8th Night" differs from other mystery thrillers, Lee said "Usually demons or Satan are placed at the center of occult movies, but the most important part of our film is spiritual enlightenment. It contains fundamental teachings of Buddhism related to pain and suffering."
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| Actor Lee Sung-min in a scene from "The 8th Night" / Courtesy of Netflix |
Park, who shot to fame through JTBC's hit drama "The World of the Married," explained that the film illustrates how one's regrets and worst fears can open the gates to hell. The plot consists of a tale of the past and hope for the future, according to him.
On playing a police officer, Park said, "It felt great to play a powerful man. Ho-tae is very passionate, but that's the reason why he misses some important evidence."
Actress Kim Yoo-jung, who stars as the mystery girl Ae-ran who becomes crucial to solving the mystery, said "The 8th Night" was her first film as an adult.
"The subject matter was so fascinating and unusual. Director Kim surprised me on our first meeting because he had such a clear idea about the film and each of the characters. He was part of the reason I decided to take part in the project," she said.
Nam, who plays the role of the young monk in the film, said he tried to display a positive character who holds onto his pure nature. "I raised my (vocal) tone and tried to look cute by raising my eyebrows," he explained. However, the actor hinted that the audiences may find a more mature, masculine side to his character as the story unfolds.
"The 8th Night" will premiere on Netflix, July 2.
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