[Photo &] More Chilling Because It's Based on a True Story… 'Samakdo' Jo Yoon-seo & Kwak Si-yang Chase the Worst Cult 'Baekbaekgyo' at the 'Occult Horror' Press Conference

The worst 'cult' that vanished during the Japanese occupation, and the investigative reporting team that confronts the reality of 'absolute evil' unfolds on the screen. The movie 'Samakdo' stands before the public, promising a unique genre catharsis that combines religion, the occult, and horror. At the press conference held on the 5th at CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall in Seoul, the heavy reality of fear that the work possesses was revealed. Notably, it is a key point of interest that it embodies a sense of horror that blurs the line between reality and fiction, inspired by the real-life cult 'Baekbaekgyo'.

Actress 'Jo Yoon-seo' showcases a bold transformation in this work. Playing the role of investigative reporting PD 'Chae So-yeon', she delicately portrays the 'trauma' hidden behind her excellent reporting skills. Arriving on a remote island following a mysterious tip, she faces extreme fear as her previously held reason and logic crumble. Jo Yoon-seo firmly supports the narrative with a multidimensional psychological portrayal that oscillates between the cold journalist and the human frailty consumed by fear.

'Kwak Si-yang' amplifies the tension of the narrative by portraying Japanese Hondo TV reporter 'Matsuda Ryuhei'. Matsuda is a character who joins the reporting team with a crucial clue about the religion 'Samsendo', which evaporated into history along with the collective suicide incident during the Japanese occupation. The more he approaches the truth of the incident, the more his mysterious aura instills another doubt in the audience. Kwak Si-yang's unique weighty performance highlights the character's secretive narrative, completing the 'mystery' of the occult genre.

The film depicts a suffocating hell on earth set in a closed village dominated by 'taboos'. The strange energy that permeates the village and the traces of 'Samsendo' provide psychological pressure beyond simple visual horror. The addition of solid supporting actors like Yang Joo-ho, Lim So-young, and Jang Ui-soo has increased the density of the narrative. At this 'press conference', the actors and director expressed confidence that they captured both social messages and genre fun. The slowly tightening reality of fear awaits the audience.

The released 'poster' represents the eerie and intense aura that the film embodies. 'Samakdo' deals with the primal fear of humans confronting the horrific truths hidden in forgotten history and is anticipated to open a new horizon for Korean 'occult films'. The struggle between those who seek to uncover the truth and the entities that wish to protect the darkness, along with the shocking conclusion that lies at the end, will provide overwhelming immersion for the audience visiting the theater.