# The Priests (film)

The Priests (Korean: 검은 사제들; lit. "Black Priests") is a 2015 South Korean supernatural horror mystery film written and directed by Jang Jae-hyun, based on his award-winning short film 12th Assistant Deacon.

## Plot

A young girl who belongs to Father Kim's parish becomes comatose after a hit-and-run accident caused by two priests. Father Kim suspects she is possessed by an evil spirit. Father Kim along with a rebellious young seminarian named Choi try to exorcise the demon and confine it in a piglet. Members of a Rosicrucian sect inform Father Kim that two of their priests were killed by this demon. During the exorcism, the demon manifests, inflicting unnatural bodily rashes. Choi initially runs out halfway through the exorcism attempt, but eventually decides to return, determined to finish what they started. Father Kim tells him to believe this ministry isn't in vain and the reward is in the Lord's hand (Isaiah 49:4). Choi replies by quoting Ezekiel 2:6, and affirms he is prepared now. When they try to free the girl from the demon's powerful hold, they realize that the demon they are facing is an ancient one named Malphas and is far more dangerous than they ever thought. However, they manage to confine it in the piglet, but the police arrive and try to arrest them for killing Young-shin, acting on a complaint by her extremely traumatized parents. Choi runs out with the pig, faces many obstructions but successfully drowns it in the river as instructed by Kim (Luke 8:33). Young-shin who was considered dead shows signs of life, and Father Kim's and Brother Choi's rashes disappear.

## Cast

* Kim Yoon-seok as Father Kim
* Gang Dong-won as Deacon Choi
* Park So-dam as Young-shin
* Kim Eui-sung as Dean of clergy
* Son Jong-hak as Monsignor
* Lee Ho-jae as Father Jeong
* Nam Il-woo as Abbot
* Kim Byeong-ok as Professor Park
* Cho Soo-hyang as Agnes
* Park Woong as Bishop
* Lee Jeong-yeol as Young-shin's father
* Kim So-sook as Young-shin's mother
* Jeong Ha-dam as Shaman Young-joo
* Kim Soo-jin as Father Kim's younger sister
* Don-Don the pig as the Pig

## Reception

The film was number-one on its opening weekend, with ₩13 billion. By its third weekend, the film had grossed ₩35 billion at the South Korean box office.

## Awards and nominations

| Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
| 25th Buil Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Park So-dam | Won |
| 25th Buil Film Awards | Best New Actress | Park So-dam | Nominated |
| 16th Women in Film Korea Awards | Best New Actress | Park So-dam | Won |
| 7th KOFRA Film Awards | Best New Actress | Park So-dam | Won |
| 11th Max Movie Awards | Best New Actress | Park So-dam | Won |
| 21st Chunsa Film Art Awards | Best New Actress | Park So-dam | Won |
| 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards | Best New Actress | Park So-dam | Won |
| 10th Asian Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Park So-dam | Nominated |
| 3rd Korean Film Producers Association Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Park So-dam | Won |
| 37th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Park So-dam | Won |
| 37th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best New Director | Jang Jae-hyun | Nominated |
| 37th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Editing | Sin Min-kyeong | Nominated |
| 37th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Best Music | Kim Tae-seong | Nominated |
| 37th Blue Dragon Film Awards | Technical Awards | Baek Sang-hoon-I (Visual effects) | Nominated |