# The Cursed: Dead Man's Prey (방법: 재차의)
**The Cursed: Dead Man's Prey** (방법: 재차의; literal title *The Cursed: Jaechaui*) is a 2021 South Korean mystery-thriller film and a feature-film spin-off of the 2020 tvN occult drama *The Cursed* (방법). Directed by [Kim Yong](https://www.edgepedia.org/kim-yong)-wan and written by [Yeon Sang-ho](https://www.edgepedia.org/yeon-sang-ho), it was released in South Korea on July 28, 2021, runs 109 minutes, and was rated 15.[1](https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20202185) • [2](https://asianwiki.com/index.php?title=The_Cursed%3A_Dead_Man%27s_Prey)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | July 28, 2021, South Korea; 109 minutes; rated 15[1](https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20202185) |
| Genre | Mystery, thriller; the film shifts the series' occult horror toward action thriller[1](https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20202185) • [3](https://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/news/interview.jsp?blbdComCd=601019&mode=INTERVIEW_VIEW&seq=419) |
| Director / writer | Kim Yong-wan (director); Yeon Sang-ho (writer and original creator)[2](https://asianwiki.com/index.php?title=The_Cursed%3A_Dead_Man%27s_Prey) |
| Lead cast | Uhm Ji-won as reporter Im Jin-hee; Jung Ji-so as the medium Baek So-jin; Jung Moon-sung as Jung Seong-jun[1](https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20202185) • [4](https://cine21.com/movie/info/?movie_id=57371) |
| Central monster | The jaechaui (재차의, 在此矣), corpses reanimated and manipulated by a shaman[3](https://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/news/interview.jsp?blbdComCd=601019&mode=INTERVIEW_VIEW&seq=419) |
| Box office (Korea) | 175,578 admissions and $1,127,335 gross on 838 screens (KOFIC figure)[1](https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20202185) |
| Production | Climax Studio, CJ ENM, Studio Dragon, and keyeast; distributed by CJ ENM[1](https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20202185) • [4](https://cine21.com/movie/info/?movie_id=57371) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
The story opens with a murder in which the suspect found dead beside the victim turns out to have died three months earlier, leaving the police baffled.[4](https://cine21.com/movie/info/?movie_id=57371) Im Jin-hee, a reporter at the independent news channel Urban Detective, receives a call during a radio appearance from a man claiming to be the true killer, and she arranges a live-streamed interview with him.[4](https://cine21.com/movie/info/?movie_id=57371) • [9](https://www.netflixmovies.com/the-cursed-dead-mans-prey-2021) On air, the caller announces that the undead will commit three further murders, targeting executives of a pharmaceutical company implicated in illegal clinical trials, and demands a public apology from its CEO.[4](https://cine21.com/movie/info/?movie_id=57371) • [10](https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-movies/article/3147828/cursed-dead-mans-prey-movie-review-korean-zombie-thriller) • [11](https://www.biff.kr/eng/html/archive/arc_history_view.asp?kind=history&m_idx=55958&pyear=2021) When the first predicted murder arrives, a huge horde of jaechaui mounts an indiscriminate attack that overwhelms the police.[4](https://cine21.com/movie/info/?movie_id=57371) As the mystery deepens, the plot becomes a story of revenge through the dark arts against a company that exploits the marginalized, and Baek So-jin returns to give Jin-hee supernatural help.[12](https://www.campus.sg/review-the-cursed-dead-mans-prey-korean/) • [6](https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/news/newfilm.jsp?mode=VIEW&pageRowSize=10&seq=432) A post-credits scene teases a further story in the *Cursed* universe.[7](https://www.yna.co.kr/amp/view/AKR20210720165200005)
## Origin and relation to the series
The film extends the world of *The Cursed*, a twelve-episode tvN drama broadcast in February 2020 that popularized Korean occult horror and built a substantial fandom.[3](https://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/news/interview.jsp?blbdComCd=601019&mode=INTERVIEW_VIEW&seq=419) • [5](https://digitalchosun.dizzo.com/site/data/html_dir/2020/12/08/2020120880029.html) Its story takes place three years after the events of the series, and it reunites the two leads: Im Jin-hee ([Uhm Ji-won](https://www.edgepedia.org/uhm-ji-won)), a reporter who has just gone independent, and Baek So-jin (Jung Ji-so), a medium who can kill a person simply by looking at their photo or name.[3](https://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/news/interview.jsp?blbdComCd=601019&mode=INTERVIEW_VIEW&seq=419) Supporting actors Kim In-kwon and Ko Gyu-pil returned from the series, while Kwon Hae-hyo and Cho Han-cheol joined as new characters.[6](https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/news/newfilm.jsp?mode=VIEW&pageRowSize=10&seq=432)
A film sequel to a television series is a rare occurrence in the Korean content market, and director Kim Yong-wan described the established universe and characters as the reason the production team, including screenwriter Yeon Sang-ho, could move quickly in planning. He stated that whereas the series was made in the Korean occult horror genre, the film is more of an action thriller, chosen to realize visuals that could not be achieved for television.[3](https://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/news/interview.jsp?blbdComCd=601019&mode=INTERVIEW_VIEW&seq=419) The film keeps the series' core premise, a death curse called bangbeop (방법, 謗法) worked through Hanja names, photos, and belongings, and the bangbeopsa (방법사) who wield it.[5](https://digitalchosun.dizzo.com/site/data/html_dir/2020/12/08/2020120880029.html)
## The jaechaui
The film's signature monster is the jaechaui (재차의, 在此矣), corpses that have risen from the dead and are able to talk, manipulated by a shaman.[2](https://asianwiki.com/index.php?title=The_Cursed%3A_Dead_Man%27s_Prey) • [3](https://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/news/interview.jsp?blbdComCd=601019&mode=INTERVIEW_VIEW&seq=419) The name comes from the *Assorted Writings of Yongjae* (용재총화), published in 1525 by the Korean scholar Seong Hyeon, which describes zombie-like creatures with black hands and feet and unnatural movement.[3](https://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/news/interview.jsp?blbdComCd=601019&mode=INTERVIEW_VIEW&seq=419) • [7](https://www.yna.co.kr/amp/view/AKR20210720165200005) For the film, Yeon Sang-ho introduced the new premise that an Indonesian shaman, a dukun, performs the curse on corpses and controls them.[7](https://www.yna.co.kr/amp/view/AKR20210720165200005)
Unlike conventional zombies, the jaechaui move with the discipline of trained soldiers: they run, drive cars, plan, and speak, while their joints bend and break grotesquely and their strength exceeds human limits.[7](https://www.yna.co.kr/amp/view/AKR20210720165200005) • [8](https://www.filmelier.com/movies/21293/the-cursed-dead-mans-prey) Dozens of performers played the jaechaui, and the coordinated movement of the manipulated corpses drives the film's action set pieces, including a car chase that Yonhap News called a highlight of the film.[7](https://www.yna.co.kr/amp/view/AKR20210720165200005)
## Production and release
Filming began on September 9, 2020 and finished on December 23, 2020.[2](https://asianwiki.com/index.php?title=The_Cursed%3A_Dead_Man%27s_Prey) The film was produced by Climax Studio with CJ ENM, Studio Dragon, and keyeast, and distributed by CJ ENM.[1](https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20202185) • [4](https://cine21.com/movie/info/?movie_id=57371) It opened in South Korean theaters on July 28, 2021 on 838 screens.[1](https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20202185)
## Reception
The film earned 175,578 admissions and $1,127,335 in gross receipts according to the KOFIC database; the Korean review site Cine21 lists a slightly lower cumulative figure of 172,969 admissions.[1](https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20202185) • [4](https://cine21.com/movie/info/?movie_id=57371) Cine21's five critics averaged 6.00 out of 10, matching its audience score.[4](https://cine21.com/movie/info/?movie_id=57371) On IMDb the film holds 5.9/10 from about 1,100 votes, and Rotten Tomatoes shows a 50% Popcornmeter audience score from fewer than 50 ratings with no critic reviews counted.[13](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_cursed_dead_mans_prey) The *South China Morning Post* gave it 3/5 stars, calling a mid-film set piece involving a swarm of rampaging corpses one of the best action scenes of 2021 and noting that audiences need little foreknowledge of the series.[10](https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-movies/article/3147828/cursed-dead-mans-prey-movie-review-korean-zombie-thriller) Yonhap's review praised the jaechaui's disciplined, non-zombie movement while noting that the story's late turn toward straightforward justice weakened its momentum.[7](https://www.yna.co.kr/amp/view/AKR20210720165200005)
The film has circulated on streaming services including Netflix in South Korea, Tubi, and [The Roku Channel](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-roku-channel), and is available for digital purchase in several territories.[14](https://www.netflix.com/kr/title/81646757) • [15](https://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-cursed-dead-mans-prey/MuU6QezJJoXBTvMarG4NJ7/where-to-watch/)
## References
1. [The Cursed: Dead Man's Prey (2021), KOFIC Korean Film Biz Zone film database](https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/films/index/filmsView.jsp?movieCd=20202185)
2. [The Cursed: Dead Man's Prey, AsianWiki](https://asianwiki.com/index.php?title=The_Cursed%3A_Dead_Man%27s_Prey)
3. [THE CURSED: DEAD MAN'S PREY by Kim Yongwan, The New Visual Shock in the K-zombie Genre, Korean Cinema Today interview (KOFIC)](https://koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/news/interview.jsp?blbdComCd=601019&mode=INTERVIEW_VIEW&seq=419)
4. [방법: 재차의 상세정보, Cine21](https://cine21.com/movie/info/?movie_id=57371)
5. [엄지원X정지소, '방법' 확장판 '방법: 재차의' 크랭크업, 디지틀조선일보](https://digitalchosun.dizzo.com/site/data/html_dir/2020/12/08/2020120880029.html)
6. [THE CURSED: DEAD MAN'S PREY, Korean Film Biz Zone news (Pierce Conran)](https://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/eng/news/newfilm.jsp?mode=VIEW&pageRowSize=10&seq=432)
7. [좀비 뛰어넘는 기괴한 군단의 등장…영화 '방법: 재차의', 연합뉴스](https://www.yna.co.kr/amp/view/AKR20210720165200005)
8. [The Cursed: Dead Man's Prey, Filmelier](https://www.filmelier.com/movies/21293/the-cursed-dead-mans-prey)
9. [The Cursed: Dead Man's Prey (2021) on Netflix, NetflixMovies.com](https://www.netflixmovies.com/the-cursed-dead-mans-prey-2021)
10. [The Cursed: Dead Man's Prey movie review, South China Morning Post](https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/k-pop/k-movies/article/3147828/cursed-dead-mans-prey-movie-review-korean-zombie-thriller)
11. [The Cursed: Dead Man's Prey program note, Busan International Film Festival archive](https://www.biff.kr/eng/html/archive/arc_history_view.asp?kind=history&m_idx=55958&pyear=2021)
12. [The Cursed: Dead Man's Prey (Korean) review, Campus Magazine](https://www.campus.sg/review-the-cursed-dead-mans-prey-korean/)
13. [The Cursed: Dead Man's Prey, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_cursed_dead_mans_prey)
14. [방법: 재차의, Netflix](https://www.netflix.com/kr/title/81646757)
15. [The Cursed: Dead Man's Prey: Where to Watch, Moviefone](https://www.moviefone.com/movie/the-cursed-dead-mans-prey/MuU6QezJJoXBTvMarG4NJ7/where-to-watch/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Horror films (individual works) › Supernatural horror films › 2020s supernatural horror films › Titles symbols to L*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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