April movie theaters: Horror and comedy foreign films

Horror films are often released in the summer season, coinciding with warmer weather, to offer a cool escape and appeal to younger audiences. However, this year, Korean cinema is breaking the mold, presenting a diverse range of horror films starting from February. These include IT-based "tech horror," "occult" films, which have become mainstream following the success of "Exhuma," and recently popular horror films based on true stories. A lineup of horror films, such as "App That Calls Ghosts: Young" in February, "The Three Devils" in March, and "Salmokji" in April, are scheduled for release one after another.

These endeavors are creating a positive atmosphere. The omnibus horror film "App That Calls Ghosts: Young" created a quiet buzz in theaters in March, drawing over 90,000 viewers and entering the top 10 at the box office. This is a notable achievement for a niche genre like horror, especially despite the cold weather. Even with an exclusive release at CGV, it is performing well, ranking second in seat occupancy. The film is praised for captivating younger audiences with its use of smartphones as a theme and its direction, which transforms familiar spaces into sites of terror.

In March, the occult horror film "The Three Devils" is set for release. This movie delves into the secrets of a pseudo-religious cult that disappeared after the Japanese colonial period and unfolds in a village where taboos are sealed. It is expected to continue the trend of occult genre films, which have seen increased production following the recent success of "Exhuma." Starring Jo Yoon-seo and Kwak Si-yang, known for their roles in "My Heart" and "Welcome to Samdal-ri," the film aims to attract audiences who prefer horror with a shamanistic or religious atmosphere, by exploring Korean and Japanese history.

In April, Showbox's horror film "Salmokji" will be released. This marks Kim Hye-yoon's first horror role after her popularity in "Lovely Runner," and it features young actors like Lee Jong-won and Jang Da-ah. "Salmokji" is set at a reservoir in Yesan-gun, Chungnam, famous as a real-life haunted spot, and deals with everyday horror that spreads through social media. It aims to deliver a more realistic sense of fear, following in the footsteps of horror films that have utilized place names, such as "Gonjiam," "The Wailing," and "Chiaksan."

Whether these horror films will achieve success in the early spring box office remains to be seen with the release of "The Three Devils" on March 11 and "Salmokji" on April 8.