Actress Song Hye-kyo, who said “I didn’t want to go back to melodramas“, he conveyed the full meaning of his words through the film “Dark Nuns”.
On January 20, “Dark Nuns” was unveiled during a press and distributor preview. The film is a spin-off of the 2015 film “The Priests”, which depicts the story of people engaging in a forbidden ritual to save a boy possessed by a powerful evil spirit. Directed by Kwon Hyeok-jae, it offers a new take on “K-occult” cinema.
“Dark Nuns” marks Song Hye-kyo’s return to the big screen after 11 years. She plays Sister Junia, a bold and resolute character. Song Hye-kyo brings a multifaceted charisma to Junia, who appears cold on the surface but hides a fiery heart. The complex dimensions of the character come to life through Song Hye-kyo’s performance.
Previously, Song Hye-kyo surprised viewers with her role in the Netflix original series “The Glory,” in which she played a victim of school violence, marking a significant transformation in her acting. When it was revealed that he had chosen a genre piece instead of his familiar forte of melodrama, it caused quite a stir. Given the overwhelming success of “The Glory,” attention naturally turned to his next project. Defying expectations once again, Song Hye-kyo ventured into the occult genre with “Dark Nuns.” Explaining her decision, Song Hye-kyo said: “After ‘La Gloria’ I didn’t want to go back to love stories. I was reviewing screenplays focusing on genre works when I came across the script for ‘Dark Nuns’. As I read it, I felt that it would be a challenging and difficult journey, but I thought that I could discover new expressions of myself by undertaking this project.” In this sense, “Dark Nuns” adds another significant milestone to Song Hye-kyo’s filmography.
Unlike her previous roles in which she wore full makeup and beautiful clothes, Song Hye-kyo appears in “Dark Nuns” without makeup and wearing a nun’s habit, offering an unusual vision. The sharp curses she utters and the first smoking scenes in her career belong entirely to Junia, not Song Hye-kyo. Over time, Song Hye-kyo erased herself, shedding her safe shell and embracing newness.
Jeon Yeo-bin also gives an outstanding performance as Michaela, a resident psychiatric nun. From the initial rebellion against Junia to the fierce determination to save Hee-joon, Jeon Yeo-bin profoundly portrays her character’s transformation. Additionally, his strong bond with Song Hye-kyo’s Junia captures attention with her deep “woman” chemistry.
“Dark Nuns” is enriched by the stellar performances of Song Hye-kyo, Jeon Yeo-bin and the synergy of the cast. As one of the first releases of 2025, the film is bound to have a special meaning for audiences.
“Dark Nuns” will be released on January 24th.
