Is Exhuma set to be the next big hit horror film on Shudder?

Shudder has been hitting the ball out of the park this year with the addition of popular, talked-about horror films like Late Night with the Devil and In a Violent Nature. Both of these films were in the news prior to their releases – Late Night with the Devil due to the use of AI images, and In a Violent Nature got significant press because of reports that an audience member at a screening actually vomited due to the extreme violence and gore.

Late Night with the Devil was released in theaters prior to its Shudder release, and In a Violent Nature is following that same path (it just opened in theaters, and has not yet made its debut on Shudder).

The newest headed-to-Shudder film that has been getting advance raves is Exhuma, a South Korean supernatural horror film. Exhuma made its world premiere in February at the Berlin International Film Festival before opening in South Korean theaters later that month.

Exhuma was a huge box office hit in South Korea, becoming the highest-grossing film of 2024, and it was nominated for eight Baeksang Arts Awards. Ultimately, it won four of those awards: Best actress, best new actor, best director and the technical award.

Unlike the first two films we discussed, Exhuma is not scheduled for a theatrical release in the US, but being such a massive hit in its home country is a pretty good indicator of future success. Bloody Disgusting’s Meagan Navarro referred to it as “an unexpected and entertaining take on folk horror,” praising the strong cast and the film’s palpable sense of dread.

What is Exhuma about?

A well-to-do Korean family discovers they are victims of a “Grave’s Call” curse that is affecting their newborn son. Shaman Hwa-rim determines that an ancestor is haunting them, and enlists the help of a Feng shui master and a mortician to move the body of the angry ancestor to another location.

One member of the group senses the extreme danger in moving forward with the plan, but Hwa-rim, concerned about how the baby is being affected, believes that a ritual can be performed during the exhumation. However, doing so releases the entity.

Exhuma seems poised for success, especially when the popularity of Asian horror is considered. Train to Busan was also a South Korean film, and it has been highly regarded since its release in 2016. That success was certainly well-deserved, and if you don’t think a zombie film is capable of inciting emotional tears, you just haven’t watched Train to Busan yet!

Exhuma will be available to stream on Shudder June 14, so mark it on your calendar.