Ma Dong-seok Expands His Cinematic Universe with ‘Holy Night: Demon Hunters’
When Ma Dong-seok lands a punch, justice resonates. After establishing his signature action style in The Outlaws series, Ma returns with an occult twist in the newly released Holy Night: Demon Hunters—a film that once again pushes the boundaries of the ‘Ma Dong-seok genre.’ Directed by Lim Dae-hee, the movie marries the muscular charm Ma is known for with a fantasy-rich, darkly comedic tone that defines this new chapter in his career.
Set in a city overtaken by a cult that worships evil, the film follows supernatural exterminators at the ‘Holy Night’ exorcism office—led by Bau (Ma Dong-seok), Sharon (Seohyun of Girls’ Generation), and Kim Gun (Lee David)—as they battle sinister forces in a true occult action thrill ride. Ma noted, “Director Lim and I were passionate about the occult genre. It was originally a dark fantasy we were developing, and the idea of doing a Hollywood-style hero film on a modest budget became our mission.” Demon Hunters was produced with a budget of roughly 6 to 7 billion KRW (around $5 million USD).
Proving its global appeal, the film was pre-sold in 107 countries, with theatrical releases already rolling out across Asia and beyond. Premiering in Taiwan, it has reached audiences in North America, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, and is set to release in the UK on June 23.
While the core narrative centers on Sharon and a possessed girl Eun-seo (Jung Ji-so), Ma’s character Bau serves as a spiritual bodyguard—eliminating demonic threats that disrupt the exorcism. “Every character gets their moment,” Ma said. “Although the film doesn’t introduce my character’s full backstory, Bau is essential to the broader universe.”
This broader universe is no accident. Building an expansive IP ecosystem, Ma has already launched a Naver Webtoon prequel titled Holy Night: The Zero, set to debut in October 2024. Inspired by the legendary Japanese dark fantasy manga Berserk, Ma explained the concept was developed as a full-length story first, with the film adapted as just a fraction of the whole.
Ma’s candid reflections on his established screen persona reveal a clear strategy. “Yes, there are recurring traits in my roles,” he said. “But like Jackie Chan, who always plays Jackie, I wanted movies where Ma Dong-seok is Ma Dong-seok. Korea lacked that kind of figure, and I thought—maybe I could be the one.” Behind the scenes, Ma ensures variation through emotional nuance and action choreography. He revealed even professional boxers notice the subtle differences in his fight scenes across films.
Currently, Ma is producing and starring in Pig Village, a Hollywood collaboration featuring international actors like Michael Rooker and Colin Woodell. Filmed entirely in Korea with 11 global actors flown in, the project challenges the Hollywood convention of production location. “Why do Hollywood-style films need to be made abroad?” he questioned. “We can do it here with great crews and tighter budgets.”
His roadmap includes four more entries in The Outlaws series, including part 5 set to shoot next year, and multiple screenplays across genres—from musical dramas to classic thrillers. As a pillar of Korea’s film industry, Ma actively nurtures new directors and talent. “I’m bursting with ideas,” he laughs. “Writing when there’s no filming, and always planning the next step. I just want to continue doing what I love—making films—for as long as I can.”
In the ever-growing ‘Ma Dong-seok Cinematic Universe,’ one thing is certain: action, heart, and high stakes are always guaranteed.
