When a renowned shaman (KIM Go-Eun) and her protégé (Lee Do-hyun) are hired by a wealthy, enigmatic family, they begin investigating the cause of a disturbing supernatural illness that affects only the first-born children of each generation. With the help of a knowledgeable mortician (YOO Hai-jin) and the country’s most revered geomancer (CHOI Min-sik), they soon trace the affliction’s origin to a long-hidden family grave located on sacred ground. Sensing an ominous aura surrounding the burial site, the team opts to exhume and relocate the ancestral remains immediately. But as something much darker emerges, they soon discover what befalls those who dare to mess with the wrong grave.

For in-depth thoughts on Exhuma, please see our previous piece on the film here.

Video Quality

Exhuma comes to Blu-Ray with a satisfying AVC-encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. The film also has a 4K UHD Blu-Ray available, but that was not made available for review. The transfer thrives in its impressive level of detail in the subtlest aspects of the production design and practical effects work. Small details like the dirt around the grave site provide a texture that is crisply defined. The picture is largely clear with only brief bouts of murkiness during a few darker scenes.

The film delivers some softer shots for creative reasons, but nothing that would distract from the viewing experience. The film sports some gorgeous cinematography that renders well. The hues that saturate the frame are deep and natural from the landscapes to the introduction of color in the clothing and light sources. The color palette favors a cooler push. Black levels could strive to be slightly deeper, but there is not much in the way of crush. Well Go USA has put forth a strong effort for this one, but those who are capable may want to spring for the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Audio Quality

The film comes to Blu-Ray with a fantastic Dolby Atmos track in the original Korean and an English dub in DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that are both a triumph. We understand that some people prefer a dub, but this really deserves to be seen in its original language with the upgraded audio. The movie offers a notable workout with environmental sounds that yield an unsettling immersive atmosphere for the story. The height channels add a lot in this respect as ghostly noises swirl above you in a way you won’t soon forget. Surround channels get some significant activity during the plethora of outdoor scenes and any encroaching thrills. The low end of the track is especially active during moments of terror. Dialogue and sound effects are appropriately balanced with the score where nothing gets overpowered in the track. This track is a force and will be appreciated by horror fans who pick up this disc.

Special Features

Making Of: A nearly four-minute piece that gives a broad overview of the story, the ideas behind the narrative, the performers, the effects work, and more.

Trailer: The two-minute trailer for Exhuma is provided.

Final Thoughts

Exhuma is a truly unsettling viewing experience that uses its ample runtime to set up the various pieces of its narrative to play out in a masterful fashion. The movie gets unhinged on more than one occasion, yet it also has some insightful exploration of generational trauma. The performances are strong for what this story demands, and the special effects work make some of the more kooky elements work in context. We understand why this was such a huge hit in Korea, and we can only hope international audiences can give it as much attention. Well Go USA Entertainment has delivered a strong A/V presentation and a small amount of special features. If the premise appeals to you, you may want to go all-in for the 4K UHD Blu-Ray. Recommended

Exhuma is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, and DVD.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Well Go USA Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.