The Priests 2015

A young girl named Young-shin from Father Kim’s parish falls into a coma after a hit-and-run caused by two priests. Believing she is possessed by an evil spirit, Father Kim teams up with the rebellious young seminarian Choi to stage an exorcism, hoping to confine the demon in a piglet and save the girl. The case draws in a Rosicrucian sect, whose members inform Father Kim that two of their priests were killed by this same demon, elevating the stakes and lending a sense of historical dread to the struggle.

During the exorcism, the demon reveals its presence through unnatural bodily rashes and other unsettling signs. Choi initially bolts halfway through the ritual, but he later returns with renewed resolve, determined to see the rite through. Father Kim speaks of faith and perseverance, telling him that this ministry is not in vain and that the reward lies in the Lord’s hand (Isaiah 49:4). In response, Choi quotes Ezekiel 2:6 and proclaims that he is ready now to face whatever comes. As the confrontation deepens, it becomes clear that the demon they face is an ancient Malphas, far more dangerous than they had anticipated. Yet they succeed in confining it within the piglet, and for a moment there is a fragile sense of triumph.

The relief is short-lived, as police arrive to arrest them for the alleged killing of Young-shin, prompted by a complaint from her traumatized parents. Choi escapes with the pig, tackling a series of obstacles, and, following Kim’s direction (Luke 8:33), he ultimately drowns it in the river. In the aftermath, Young-shin, who had been thought dead, begins to show signs of life, and the rashes that plagued Father Kim and Choi disappear, leaving a quiet, albeit uneasy, closure to the ordeal.