A heart specialist doubts his daughter’s death after an exorcism, believing her heart still beats. Amid her three-day funeral, he and a priest clash over the truth, each trying to prove their stance and potentially save her life.
Stories about demonic possession have become predictable, following a familiar pattern: someone gets possessed, exhibits supernatural symptoms, and a Catholic priest shows up with the usual tools of the trade. But “Devils Stay,” directed by Hyun Moon-Seop, manages to breathe new life into this tired formula.
At its heart, the story follows Dr. Cha Seung-Do (Park Shin-Yang), a heart specialist whose life crumbles when his daughter So-Mi (Lee Re) dies during an attempted exorcism by Father Van (Lee Min-Ki), after receiving a heart from another patient. Unable to let go, Seung-Do stays with his daughter’s body throughout the traditional three-day mourning period. Soon, he starts experiencing strange phenomena – hearing his daughter’s voice and seeing unsettling visions that make him question his sanity.
Meanwhile, Father Van embarks on his own investigation, haunted by memories of a failed exorcism that was performed on him many years ago by a priest friend, which resulted in his death. His search takes him through the city’s darker corners, eventually uncovering a nightclub that serves as a front for a demon-worshipping cult. The shocking truth emerges: So-Mi’s heart transplant came from a cult member who was meant to host an ancient demon. Now, Father Van must race to protect So-Mi’s soul before the demon can complete its resurrection plan through her.
Moon-Seop’s direction sets this film apart from typical possession movies. Instead of relying on cheap thrills, he creates an unsettling mood through carefully timed silences and deliberate pacing. The film challenges genre norms, replacing predictable scares with subtle psychological tension. One memorable scene shows So-Mi levitating in midair during daylight hours outside the hospital, surrounded by witnesses – a stark contrast to the usual nighttime bedroom scenes common in possession films.
Though the actors deliver strong performances and the visual composition impresses, Moon-Seop’s thoughtful directing truly makes the film stand out. By carefully choosing which supernatural elements to show and which to merely suggest, he proves implied horror can be more powerful than explicit scares. This subtle approach helps “Devils Stay” offer something fresh in an oversaturated genre.
Available on Blu-ray™, DVD, and Digital March 18th
