Soo-ah has lived in the shadow of abuse for far too long. Her boyfriend, Hyun-woo, is volatile and violent, controlling every aspect of her life. On her 25th birthday, she agrees to a trip to a remote island with him and her friend Yoon-mi, hoping for some peace. But the quiet isolation soon transforms into a chilling nightmare.
As strange events unfold, Soo-ah begins to sense the presence of something otherworldly. The night grows heavy with tension until Anuat, a mysterious Catholic exorcist, appears on the island. His arrival is no coincidence—he’s been tracking a dark, restless spirit that has intertwined itself with Soo-ah’s fate.
In some retellings, Soo-ah’s journey takes an even darker twist—following a fatal accident, her spirit awakens with vengeance in its heart, targeting those who wronged her while the exorcist races against time to save her soul. Whether alive or beyond the veil, Soo-ah is caught in a battle between the living, the dead, and the forces neither can truly control.
Quick Movie Facts
Original Title: 검은 령 (Black Spirit)
Also Known As: Changhon: Night of Salvation
Genre: Occult Horror, Thriller
Runtime: 80–84 minutes
Director & Writer: Kim Hyun-joon
Premiere: Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival – July 7, 2024
Theatrical Release (South Korea): August 27, 2025
Main Cast: Anupam Tripathi, Im Do-hwa, Song Seung-hyun, Kim Hye-na
Anupam Tripathi – The Journey to a Defining Role
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Anupam Tripathi’s rise in South Korean cinema is the kind of story that blends grit, talent, and perseverance. Born in New Delhi, India, he began acting in theatre during his school years, developing a deep love for storytelling. In 2010, a scholarship brought him to South Korea to study at the prestigious Korea National University of Arts—a bold move that would set the stage for his remarkable career.
For years, he took on small but impactful roles in Korean films like Ode to My Father, The Attorney, and Space Sweepers, often portraying immigrants or outsiders navigating Korean society. While these roles didn’t always put him in the spotlight, they built his reputation as an actor who could bring authenticity and quiet emotional power to the screen.
The turning point came in 2021 with Netflix’s global phenomenon Squid Game. His heartfelt performance as Ali Abdul earned him worldwide recognition, but also presented a challenge—how to avoid being boxed into one type of role. Tripathi made a deliberate choice to diversify his career, and Rhapsody for the Dead became that opportunity.
In this film, he takes on the role of Anuat, a Catholic exorcist burdened by personal loss and unwavering faith. It’s a role that demanded not only physical endurance but also deep research into exorcism rituals and the emotional weight of confronting pure evil. For Tripathi, this wasn’t just another acting job—it was a chance to prove his versatility, stepping into a darker, more morally complex world than audiences had seen from him before.
About the Director – Kim Hyun-joon
Director and writer Kim Hyun-joon is known for weaving deeply human stories into genre settings. Before stepping into horror, he worked on grounded thrillers and dramas, exploring themes of guilt, morality, and trauma. His visual style is marked by muted tones, natural lighting, and an emphasis on realism—making the supernatural feel disturbingly plausible.
With Rhapsody for the Dead, Kim merges his signature emotional storytelling with ritualistic, occult horror. The result is a film that’s as much about human pain and redemption as it is about ghosts and exorcisms.
Cast Highlights
Anupam Tripathi (Anuat) – Delivering his first major lead role in Korean cinema.
Im Do-hwa (Soo-ah) – Emotional and raw in her portrayal of a woman torn between survival and supernatural forces.
Song Seung-hyun (Hyun-woo) – Menacing and intense as Soo-ah’s abusive boyfriend.
Kim Hye-na, Gwak Su-jin, Seo Dong-won, Yoon Jun-won, Kim Byung-choon – Adding depth and realism to the supporting cast.
Why You Should Watch
1. Anupam Tripathi’s Career Milestone – A role that shows his range and emotional depth beyond Squid Game.
2. Director’s Unique Vision – Kim Hyun-joon’s fusion of human drama and supernatural terror is rare in Korean cinema.
3. Fresh Horror Approach – Mixing domestic violence drama with occult exorcism delivers an emotional punch alongside the scares.
4. Festival Spotlight – Premiered at Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival before its theatrical release.
Rhapsody for the Dead is a haunting blend of personal trauma, supernatural mystery, and moral reckoning. For Anupam Tripathi, it’s not just a movie—it’s proof of his ability to carry a film with both intensity and humanity. This is a performance that could mark the beginning of his era as a leading man in Korean cinema.
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