Program Note
While following the typical formulas of the occult genre, this film attempts a unique twist with its hybrid settings. The catalyst for the events is dating violence. Sua dies after falling from a building when she refuses her boyfriend’s demand for a large sum of money. There is someone who sensed this tragedy early on: exorcist Anuat. After failing to prevent the deaths of villagers in his homeland, Anuat sought out Korean shamans and became an exorcist. But why does Anuat obsess over Sua’s death? Through the narration of characters related to Sua, the film alludes to ‘it’. Here, ‘it’ is closer to the concept of fate than a monster, making it nearly impossible to defy. The characters involved go to great lengths to overcome it, leading to the collaboration between the shaman and the exorcist. What seemed like simple dating violence is connected to an exorcism ritual, and just when the story appears to be concluding, it takes an unexpected turn and starts anew. This is why the Korean subtitle ‘±¸¿øÀÇ ¹ã Night of Salvation’ feels ominous. (HUH Namwoong)