Byeonshin

A shapeshifting demon has attached itself to the family of a catholic priest struggling with a failed exorcism and a loss of faith.

This is an interesting take on the possession idea as the focus is very much on the demon rather than the victim. Without giving too much away we are never sure precisely who is the demon as it moves from person to person.

As with most modern Korean cinema this is is a great piece of visual story telling. We are constantly guessing who and how the demon is possessing. The way the evil unfolds around the family as it turns them against each other is dramatically portrayed.

But the story kind of lets itself down in the end. Throughout this film there are reminders of the physical artifice of the church but despite the evidence of demonic possession, the impotence is ultimately frustrating.

The confrontation with evil is left down to the single younger brother but it's not really clear why. For me a little bit too much is left unsaid and implied meaning doesn't balance out the constant sense of foreboding well enough. In the end we are left with a romantic sacrifice and some rather unconvincing ghostbusters style special effects.

This film has a lot going for it and while it leaves us with many unanswered questions the performances are convincing.

The dramatization is great, and each character is portrayed with strong and believable traits. Maybe because this movie came out in 2019, the level of impossibility still fits the standard of that time, so I can understand some of the decisions made in the story.

However, watching this now in 2025, the progression of the plot feels a bit lacking by today's standards. It's hard not to question the logic behind certain actions. I was genuinely surprised by how unrealistic some parts felt. I mean, who wouldn't run away immediately when their entire family suddenly has a doppelgänger-something that's not a miracle, but closer to a psychopath in form?

If I were in that situation, I'd never step foot in that house again, especially when all of it starts happening right after moving into a new neighborhood. The premise is creepy and intense, but the characters' reactions sometimes don't match how real people would behave in such terrifying scenarios.

Overall, it's a decent horror film with strong atmosphere and acting, but it doesn't hold up as well when judged by more modern story-telling standards.

This is a solid exorcism horror film. Yes, it's in Korean (still unclear on why so many people refuse to watch movies with subtitles), but it is very good. Even twists the plot on your standard exorcism tropes in a way I don't believe I've seen done before. Really don't want to give away spoilers on that so that's all I'm saying. Good acting, creepy as hell with a few cringey gore scenes. I, myself, adore horror films. Total junkie so I've seen an obscene amount and this is definitely worth a watch. Especially if you like your exorcism/possession films.

If you are looking for an exorcism horror movie without big expectation this one is a nice choice.

It is morderately good, but it should have worked more with the family dynamics and the problems to make the whole thing way more suspense. As a viewer you know way to soon what was going on except a little bit in the end. It is not bad by any means, there are some good moments in there, but they could have done more with the concept. Plotholes aside, there were good ideas about the demon that could have played way more with the viewers mind.

Some scenes were quite good but it is no mindblowing new exorcism movie.

It felt like watching the same thing over and over. .The movie is long, kind of felt bored. It is just dragged to much. However, It has a unique concept to some extend as in horror movies, we typically get to see a ghost to enter someone's body and possessed it. But, in this movie shape shifter is kind of new. A demonic spirit or I donno what to referred it, can change shapes and faces too.