'Dark Nuns' becomes global hit, tops 1 mil. viewers in Indonesia

Song Hye-kyo's star power extends beyond Korea

By Baek Byung-yeul

Korean occult movie "Dark Nuns," starring Song Hye-kyo of the Netflix series "The Glory," is gaining immense popularity overseas, even attracting over 1 million viewers in Indonesia.

"[After] surpassing 1 million viewers in Indonesia, 'Dark Nuns' is [also] receiving much interest from global audiences by ranking No. 1 in the Philippines box office for two consecutive weeks," its distributor NEW said Tuesday.

"Dark Nuns," which premiered in Korea on Jan. 24, recently surpassed its breakeven point of 1.6 million viewers in the domestic market and continues to attract audiences in and outside of Korea.

The film depicts the story of nuns who try to execute a forbidden ritual to save a boy possessed by a powerful evil spirit. This is the official sequel to the 2015 hit occult movie "The Priests."

Overseas media cited the good chemistry between the two lead actors and the film's fresh take and unique additions to the genre, distinguishing itself from the typical occult formula, as reasons why the film is also loved by overseas audiences.

"Through its differentiated setting, it presents a new direction for the occult genre and delivers an intense story. In particular, the acting chemistry between Song Hye-kyo and Jeon Yeo-been highlights the psychological depth of the characters and leaves a strong impression," Kompas, a Jakarta-based newspaper, said.

"The unique directing style of 'Dark Nuns' creates unexpected tension and further emphasizes the atmosphere of the film," IDN Times, an online news outlet based in Indonesia, said.

Reviews also noted that the strong presence of Song, who has been long loved for her various dramas not only in Korea but also overseas, captivated the audience in the film.

"Viewers can see Song Hye-kyo's new acting transformation and dazzling performance in 'Dark Nuns,’” the magazine GQ Taiwan said.

Additionally, "Dark Nuns" gained attention for the cameo appearance of Gang Dong-won, who played Deacon Choi in "The Priests." The cameo was a special treat for fans who also watched the first film, further emphasizing the connections in the franchise.

"Dark Nuns" is being released not only in the Asian region but also in other countries, as the film was sold to 160 countries, its distributor NEW said.

The film was released in Indonesia, Taiwan and Mongolia on Jan. 24, in the Philippines on Jan. 29, in Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and Laos on Feb. 6, and in the United States and Canada on Feb. 7. It will be released in Singapore and Malaysia starting Thursday and in Vietnam on Feb. 21.