Is the exorcism scene of "Ghost Tomb Digging" too big a shadow for Vietnamese horror films?

With many similarities such as having a shaman presiding over the ritual, movements, musical instruments, spells... many recent Vietnamese exorcism films are accidentally stuck in the "shadow" of the Korean film "Exhuma."

Following the success of the South Korean film "Exhuma" (2024), many recent Vietnamese horror films in the exorcism genre have frequently been questioned by audiences regarding their originality.

Recently, the film "Relocating the Grave," scheduled for release on October 24th, is expected to coincide with Halloween. The film tells the story of a family who, after performing the ritual of relocating a relative's grave, repeatedly encounter strange supernatural phenomena and face threats to their lives. From this, the film reveals deep-seated secrets, condemning those who neglect grave rites, disregarding morality and human values ​​to live greedily and selfishly.

The film features scenes of shamans performing rituals while exhuming graves, with Kim Young-min, a member of the "Exhuming the Grave of the Dead" film crew, participating as a co-producer.

Trailer for the film "Cai Ma":

When asked whether "Cai Ma" was a copy of "Quat Mo Chong Ma," producer Emily Le denied it, saying, "We did not copy 'Quat Mo Chong Ma.' At the time the Korean film was released and achieved global success, the script for 'Cai Ma' had already been completed."

Having been invited to co-produce "The Reburial," Kim Young-min commented that the work can be described with three adjectives: "traditional," "secretive," and "reconciling."

The South Korean filmmaker expressed a positive attitude towards the cultural similarities between the two countries: “Both nations view the tomb not only as a burial place, but also as a space connecting ancestors and descendants. In traditional rituals, secrets are gradually revealed. This process creates reconciliation between the living and the deceased. That is also the core of the film,” he shared.

Before "Cai Ma," Vietnamese audiences had already asked this question about the films "Den Am Hon" and "Khe Uoc Ban Dau" (2025).

Lãnh Thanh in "The Strawberry Selling Contract." (Image from the film)

The actors' appearances in "The Grave Robber." (Image from the film)

The films all feature a shaman character who presides over exorcism rituals, a shaman who uses spells and performs specific movements and dances, distinctive sounds and music , and natural tools and materials used in the rituals… creating a high degree of similarity.

The film "The Strawberry Contract" also features a scene where actor Lãnh Thanh (the master of ceremonies) writes incantations on his body, similar to the character design of actor Lee Do-hyun in "The Exorcist's Tomb."

Responding to this opinion, director Le Van Kiet (The Strawberry Contract) affirmed that the film did not plagiarize. He argued that this similarity is a common cultural feature of many Asian countries, and no country has exclusive rights to these materials.

Director Hoang Nam (of "The Ghost Lamp") also affirmed that he "doesn't want to create controversy, so he doesn't copy any other films." He said the film is inspired by the spirit medium rituals in the Mother Goddess worship and shamanism in Vietnamese culture, and he doesn't want to imitate any other religion or culture.

The exorcism scene in "The Ghost Lamp":

Currently, the horror genre is still thriving in the Vietnamese film market. Since 2021, Vietnamese filmmakers have consistently released around 4-5 films or projects each year. Most of these films follow the theme of witchcraft and exorcism. This is also one of the most popular horror genres in Asia among international audiences, with many countries purchasing and distributing them domestically.

"Exhuma" tells the story of a group of spiritual experts specializing in exorcism rituals. Hired to excavate an ancient tomb, the group immediately faces many strange and dangerous supernatural events, exploring the historical conflict between Korea and Japan.

The film premiered at the Berlin Film Festival (Germany) and received relatively positive reviews. It grossed $93.9 million (according to Box Office Mojo) at the box office, becoming the highest-grossing film of 2024 and the sixth highest-grossing film of all time in South Korea. Vietnam contributed approximately 10% of this revenue, based on calculations from Box Office Vietnam data.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/canh-tru-ta-cua-quat-mo-trung-ma-co-la-cai-bong-qua-lon-voi-phim-kinh-di-viet-post1068942.vnp