The name Park Seo Joon needs no introduction for the true-blue K-drama fans. Among his most memorable characters, he's played the uptight cold male lead fawned over by trope enthusiasts in What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim and the justice-seeking protagonist in Itaewon Class. Suffice to say, Seo Joon is practically Korean drama royalty. But for the uninitiated, he’s also a movie star in his own right.
Nothing may typify his range than the now-trending 2019 action horror film The Divine Fury, which has been shoved back into the spotlight thanks to Netflix Philippines. Still, here’s a question bound to be raised: Is it worth a watch for non-fans and curious Top 10 lurkers? Scroll down below for the essential info.
Everything You Need to Know About The Divine Fury
The Plot
Park Seo Joon plays Yong-hoo, a man who, quite literally, is plagued by the demons of his past. Tragedies afflicted him as a child after losing both his parents, with the loss of his father becoming a strong catalyst for Yong-hoo to denounce his Catholic faith.
Fast-forward a couple years and into his adulthood, Yong-hoo is a champion mixed martial arts fighter renowned in his field. But soon enough, darkness torments him as mysterious wounds suddenly appear in the palms of his hands with voices in his head compelling him to do evil acts. Yong-hoo seeks out a priest named Father Ahn (Ahn Sung Ki), an exorcist from the Vatican.
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Meanwhile, demons have afflicted several innocents in the Korean peninsula. The story points to the big bad “The Dark Bishop” (Woo Do Hwan) as the main tormentor, who’s possibly linked to the death of Yong-hoo’s father. Despite still clinging to doubts about his faith, Yong-hoo partners up with Father Ahn to battle these dark spirits.
The Cast
Aside from K-drama regular Park Seo Joon, several familiar faces pop up in The Divine Fury. Father Ahn is played by veteran South Korean actor Ahn Sung Ki, whose filmography includes Radio Star (2007), Unbowed (2011), and Two Cops (1994).
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Alongside the two characters is rookie exorcist priest Father Choi, played by Seo Joon’s real-life friend Choi Woo Shik, who starred in the Oscar-winning Parasite (2019) and K-drama favorite Our Beloved Summer (2021). On the opposite side of the battle, actor Woo Do Hwan (The King: Eternal Monarch) portrays antagonist Ji Sin, also known as The Dark Bishop.
What Netizens Are Saying
Even for its theatrical release, The Divine Fury has caught the interest of movie-going netizens. While marketed as an action-packed horror, Twitter users praised the film’s underlying themes hinged on humanity, be it loss, faith, or familial relations. Some have also commended its take on the occult genre, which is often filled with cheap scares and terrors.
#DivineFury probably best modern exorcism movie after the priests which is also S.Korean!
— V̳i̳c̳t̳o̳r̳.̳M̳.̳r̳a̳z̳l̳e̳r̳ (@mmvithy21) October 19, 2019
what i like about their style is that they keep it simple & tells the story in their own unique way!
my rate for it 8/10 highly recommending to anyone looking for horror movies!!! pic.twitter.com/6IAQm0a8al
Such a good film. Love the acting and the ending. I like the fact that the film tells us how the lead role's mother passed away without having to say it out (the dad & son conversation at the restaurant after church). Very well thought out. #divinefury #koreanmovie pic.twitter.com/cMIO2Uyp9h
— Amitiht (@TheRealAmitiht) September 10, 2019
"Its okay to have a bad grades but be a good person..."#Divinefury is a must watched movie. The story, acting & cinematography is jjang! woo do hwan and seo joon perfectly portrayed their character . I like the story since its a matter of faith...
— bunny (@pmyrabbit) August 17, 2019
'Divine Fury' wasn't as scary as I thought. Loved Park Seo-jun's performance in this! I'm excited to see what they can bring to the table to create this occult-themed cinematic universe. If you like exorcism and superheroes, you'll enjoy #DivineFury.
— Jessica Chua (@jayceepeekay) August 19, 2019
Rating: 8/10
just watched #DivineFury AND IT WAS SO AMAZING FOR REAL !!! loved how it dealt with themes of religion, faith, loss, love and strength, especially in friendship â¤ï¸HUGE RESPECT and LOVE for the korean film industry and their GENIUS ! cant wait for #Parasite hi @poutyminsuga😜
— gasoline â›½ï¸ (@samgYUUUUUP) August 17, 2019
What the Critics Are Saying
Audiences are raving about it, while critics remain a bit lukewarm. Simon Abrams of RogerEbert.com deemed that “more care was seemingly put into the lighting” than scripting, and Courtney Small of Cinema Axis cheekily commented that “not even divine intervention can save this film.”
Still, there are a few rays of light when it comes to critic reviews. CJ Sheu of Critics at Large notes how The Divine Fury plays between the lines of theological and psychological thought, while San Diego Reader’s Matthew Lickona praises its “intelligent sincerity” amid all the blood and guts.
Watch the full trailer of “The Divine Fury” below:
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