Song Hye Kyo's drama "Dark Nuns" unexpectedly faces calls for a boycott.

Song Hye Kyo's film "Dark Nuns" has already faced a wave of criticism even before its official release.

Song Hye Kyo plays the role of nun Junia in "Dark Nuns". Photo: Producer.

According to Koreaboo, the South Korean film "Dark Nuns" had its first special screenings for audiences on January 21st, before its official release on January 24th.

“Dark Nuns” is expected to boost box office revenue, as it marks the return of star Song Hye Kyo to Korean cinema after 11 years. It also features a cast of other talented actors. performer Their acting abilities are recognized alongside those of actors like Jeon Yeo Been, Lee Jin Wook, and Moon Woo Jin.

However, after its early screening, "Dark Nuns" unexpectedly received mixed reviews and criticism from Korean audiences.

Some viewers wrote reviews of the film on platform X (or Twitter). These posts then quickly gained attention when they were shared on the online community Theqoo, attracting tens of thousands of views and hundreds of comments.

Jeon Yeo Been and Song Hye Kyo star in “Dark Nuns”. Photo: Producer.

One review highlighted two issues in “Dark Nuns” that made them uncomfortable, particularly focusing on the controversial content and the director's approach.

“Dark Nuns” was expected to be a compelling addition to the horror-mystery genre, which has seen a surge in popularity in South Korea in recent years. However, instead, it was criticized for its poor and flawed script.

According to the review, director It failed to convey a coherent story, leaving viewers disappointed with what has been described as a "pathetic" plot.

During the press conference, the director himself admitted that the storyline had many shortcomings, and he had to take responsibility for this.

The review also pointed out that the film uses too many and too repeatedly sensitive, offensive, and misogynistic phrases.

Negative reactions to “Dark Nuns” continue to spread. Many netizens have stated they will not buy tickets to see the film. Some viewers have also commented that watching the movie is a “waste of money” after reading negative reviews.

The topic "Korean netizens boycott Song Hye Kyo's new drama" even topped the hot search rankings on China's Weibo social media platform.

“Dark Nuns” marks Song Hye Kyo’s return to Korean cinema after 11 years, since “My Brilliant Life” (2014). Photo: Producer

However, alongside the mixed opinions, some netizens believe it's too early to draw conclusions about the film's quality, as only a few reviews from early screenings have been released. They suggest waiting until January 24th to consider more objective assessments.

According to data from the Korean Film Council, as of January 21st, "Dark Nuns" topped the domestic box office in terms of advance ticket sales, accounting for 36.7% with 123,704 tickets sold.

On its opening day (January 21), the film attracted 8,738 viewers, ranking second in daily box office revenue, only behind "Harbin".

"Dark Nuns" is a female version of the hit 2015 film "The Priests." This sequel tells the story of nuns performing a forbidden ritual to save a boy possessed by a powerful demonic spirit.

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