“Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning,” an animated horror film of Korean origin, has been added to the prestigious slate of sales agent Finecut at the European Film Market.
Based on a novel and webtoon that stand among the most successful in Korean history, the film revolves around four individuals endowed with unique powers rooted in religion, the supernatural, and legend. The source material, boasting a staggering 10 million copies in book sales and 238 million online views, forms the foundation of this cinematic endeavor.
The narrative unfolds as an origin story, delving into the inaugural adventure of a quartet comprising an excommunicated priest, a young woman with telekinesis, a man haunted by the malevolent spirit that claimed his sister, and a child prodigy adept in arcane magic. Their collective mission is to aid Father Park, a former doctor turned priest, in safeguarding a naive yet potent child from a corrupt master within a clandestine temple. The consequences of failure echo the tragedy that initially led the doctor to embrace religion.
Directed by Kim Dongchul and produced by Locus Animation Studios, a prominent animation and VFX studio known for “Red Shoes and Seven Dwarfs,” the film adopts a distinctive ‘cartoon-render style.’ This approach seamlessly blends the artistic allure of 2D animation with the immersive visual depth of 3D. Currently in post-production with no official delivery date announced, Finecut plans to showcase the film’s initial footage at the European Film Market in Berlin next month. A spokesperson for the company highlighted, “This adaptation emphasizes the mise-en-scène of the mysterious and suspenseful atmosphere, constructing a unique world where superheroes intermingle with occult elements.”
In addition to “Exorcism Chronicles,” Finecut disclosed that Locus is actively developing a 3D animated rendition of the immensely popular comic “Yumi’s Cells.” The comic had previously been adapted into a TV series, combining live-action and animation, running for two successful seasons. Produced at CJ ENM’s Studio Dragon, Locus will contribute the animated elements to this innovative project.
At the Berlin Film Festival, Finecut will also wield sales rights for other notable titles including the dance-drama film “Victory,” the action-comedy “The Desperate Chase,” and the contemporary horror film “Noise.”
