Thirst (2009)
"Bakjwi" (original title)

Through a failed medical experiment, a priest is stricken with vampirism and is forced to abandon his ascetic ways.

Director:

Chan-wook Park

Writers:

Seo-Gyeong Jeong (screenplay), Chan-wook Park (screenplay),

Stars:

Kang-ho Song, Ok-bin Kim, Hae-suk Kim

6 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Kang-ho Song	...	Priest Sang-hyeon
Ok-bin Kim	...	Tae-ju
Hae-suk Kim	...	Lady Ra
Ha-kyun Shin	...	Kang-woo
In-hwan Park	...	Priest Noh
Dal-su Oh	...	Yeong-doo
Young-chang Song	...	Seung-dae
Mercedes Cabral	...	Evelyn
Eriq Ebouaney	...	Immanuel
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Hee-jin Choi	...	Nurse
Woo-seul-hye Hwang	...	Girl with a whistle
Hwa-ryong Lee	...	Professor Ku
Mi-ran Ra	...	Nurse Yu

Storyline

Sang-hyun, a priest working for a hospital, selflessly volunteers for a secret vaccine development project intended to eradicate a deadly virus. However, the virus eventually takes over the priest. He nearly dies, but makes a miraculous recovery by an accidental transfusion of vampire blood. He realizes his sole reason for living: the pleasures of the flesh.

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Plot Keywords:

blood | priest | virus | vampire | lust | 

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for graphic bloody violence, disturbing images, strong sexual content, nudity and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [jp]

Country:

South Korea

Language:

Korean English French

Release Date:

30 April 2009 (South Korea)

Also Known As:

Thirst

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$55,889 (USA) (31 July 2009)

Gross:

$296,441 (USA) (21 August 2009)

Company Credits

Production Co:

CJ Entertainment, Focus Features International (FFI), Moho Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

133 min 145 min (director's cut) 148 min (Blu-ray Disc)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Priest Sang-hyeon: Grant me the following in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Like a leper rotting in flesh, let all avoid me. Like a cripple without limbs, let me not move freely. Remove my cheeks, tht tears may not roll down them. Crush my lips and tongue, that I may not sin with them. Pull out my nails, that I may not grasp nothing. Let my shoulders and back be bent, that I may carry nothing. Like a man with tumor in the head let me lack judgment. Ravage my body sworn to chastity leave me with no pride, and ...

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Connections

Version of The Marble Heart (1916)

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Soundtracks

"Ich habe genug"
(Cantata BWV 82)
Written by Johann Sebastian Bach

User Reviews

Every bit as good as the Vengeance trilogy

From the director of Oldboy comes this slick vampire flick. Kang-ho Song stars as a priest who is accidentally changed into a vampire while being cured of a deadly, mysterious virus. His vampirism and priesthood are quite at conflict, but he is able to survive by robbing the hospital's blood bank and unconscious patients who might not mind some siphoned blood. Because of his supposedly miraculous survival, he comes into the lives of Ha-kyun Shin's family. Shin has cancer, and his mother believes that Song can cure it. Unfortunately, Song's vampirism raises his levels of lust to a height where he can't help but fall for Shin's young wife, OK-vin Kim. Kim is intensely interested in the world of vampirism, and the two become lovers. The film from there goes in weird directions that I think one should experience for themselves. What really should be mentioned is Chan-wook Park's mastery of the medium of cinema. My God, I've rarely seen such a masterful visual artist at the peak of his powers. The major flaw of the film is that it's a little incoherent, especially near the beginning. Park is interested in telling his stories mostly in the visuals, which can be difficult to follow at times. But when it works, man, does it fly. The film is also perversely hilarious. The final sequence, easily one of the best of the decade, is simultaneously heartbreaking and delightfully ridiculous. OK-vin Kim should become a worldwide star after this film. She gives one of the best performances of the year.