Kim Jae Joong, Kong Seong Ha and Ko Youn Jun are heading into terrifying territory this summer.
The upcoming occult horror film The Shrine officially confirmed its June 17th release date, unveiling a chilling first poster and main trailer that blend Korean shamanism with the eerie atmosphere of Japanese horror.
Filmed entirely on location in Kobe, Japan, the movie follows three college students who mysteriously vanish after visiting an abandoned shrine. As strange events begin to unfold, shaman Myung Jin (Kim Jae Joong) travels to Kobe to uncover the truth and confront a sinister spirit lurking behind the disappearances.
The newly released poster sets the tone with a weathered torii gate and a crumbling abandoned shrine shrouded in darkness. Paired with the ominous tagline, “Something has started whispering,” the image teases the arrival of a terrifying new horror destination for moviegoers this summer.
The trailer opens with three college students exploring the abandoned shrine as the warning, “They stepped into a place they never should have entered,” flashes across the screen. Soon after, the students begin acting possessed before vanishing without explanation. Back in Korea, Myung Jin receives a desperate call from his former university friend Yoo Mi (Kong Seong Ha) and heads to Kobe to investigate.
As Myung Jin, Yoo Mi and pastor Han Joo are drawn deeper into the mystery, they encounter a series of disturbing supernatural events while trying to uncover the identity of the evil spirit. The film’s unique mix of Japanese folk beliefs and Korean shamanism adds to the eerie atmosphere, while Kim Jae Joong’s transformation into a powerful shaman marks a striking new role for the singer-actor.
Following the trailer release, excitement quickly spread across social media, with viewers leaving comments like, “Perfect for summer,” “I’ve been waiting forever for this,” and “Looks scary but fun.”
The Shrine is directed by Kazuyoshi Kumakiri, the acclaimed Japanese filmmaker behind Yoko, which won three awards at the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival, and #Manhole, which screened at both the Berlin International Film Festival and Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. The film also marks Kumakiri’s first Korean feature project.
Alongside Kim Jae Joong, Kong Seong Ha takes on the role of Yoo Mi as she steps into the horror genre, while Ko Youn Jun makes his screen debut as pastor Han Joo.
The Shrine opens exclusively in CGV theaters on June 17th.
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Source: LIBRARY COMPANY
