A possessed boy. Two nuns. One exorcism they’re not supposed to perform.
Most exorcism movies put a priest at the center of the story. Dark Nuns takes a different approach, following two nuns who are willing to break the rules when a young boy’s life is at risk.
Released in 2025, Dark Nuns is a Korean occult thriller directed by Kwon Hyeok-jae and starring Song Hye-kyo, Jeon Yeo-been, Lee Jin-wook, and Moon Woo-jin. The film follows Sister Junia and Sister Michaela as they attempt to save Hee-joon, a young boy believed to be possessed by a powerful evil spirit.
The film is also a spin-off of the 2015 Korean supernatural thriller The Priests, bringing a new story and two new protagonists into the same supernatural world.
What Is Dark Nuns About?
Hee-joon is a young boy suffering from a mysterious condition. Sister Junia, played by Song Hye-kyo, becomes convinced that the evil spirit possessing him is one of the 12 Manifestations.
With an exorcist priest unable to arrive in time and Hee-joon’s life clearly at risk, Junia decides to break a sacred rule: an unordained nun cannot perform an exorcism.
But Junia isn’t the only person trying to determine what is happening to the boy.
Father Paolo, played by Lee Jin-wook, is Hee-joon’s attending physician as well as a priest and psychiatrist. He believes medicine can save the boy and strongly opposes the idea of an exorcism.
Junia eventually turns to Sister Michaela, played by Jeon Yeo-been. Michaela is a student of Father Paolo, and Junia discovers a secret about her that leads her to ask for help getting Hee-joon out of the hospital.
The two nuns don’t exactly see eye to eye, but Michaela feels a connection to Hee-joon and ultimately decides to help Junia.
Together, they prepare for a dangerous ritual with one goal: save the boy at all costs.
Two Nuns Take on an Exorcism
The most interesting thing about Dark Nuns is also its simplest idea: what happens when the people trying to perform an exorcism aren’t supposed to be doing it?
Junia believes Hee-joon’s condition is supernatural and that time is running out.
Michaela takes a different path. She’s initially at odds with Junia, but her connection to Hee-joon eventually brings the two nuns together.
Father Paolo provides the opposing viewpoint. He sees Hee-joon’s condition through the lens of medicine and believes the boy can be treated without an exorcism.
That gives Dark Nuns a conflict beyond the usual battle between good and evil. Junia, Michaela, and Paolo all want to save Hee-joon, but they disagree about how it should be done.
Meet the Dark Nuns Cast
Song Hye-kyo as Sister Junia
Song Hye-kyo plays Sister Junia, a determined nun who refuses to give up on Hee-joon.
It’s a darker role for the actress, who is known for major Korean dramas including Descendants of the Sun and The Glory. Junia’s willingness to break the rules puts her at the center of the film’s supernatural conflict.
Jeon Yeo-been as Sister Michaela
Jeon Yeo-been plays Sister Michaela, a younger nun and student of Father Paolo.
Michaela initially clashes with Junia, but she develops a connection with Hee-joon and eventually agrees to help with Junia’s dangerous plan.
Lee Jin-wook as Father Paolo
Lee Jin-wook plays Father Paolo, a priest and psychiatrist who is also Hee-joon’s attending physician.
Unlike Junia, Paolo believes the boy’s condition can be treated medically. His opposition to the exorcism puts him directly at odds with the two nuns.
Moon Woo-jin as Hee-joon
Moon Woo-jin plays Hee-joon, the young boy at the center of the story.
His mysterious condition brings Junia, Michaela, and Paolo into conflict and sets the film’s events in motion.
How Is Dark Nuns Connected to The Priests?
If Dark Nuns sounds familiar, there’s a reason.
The film is a spin-off of The Priests, the 2015 Korean supernatural thriller starring Kim Yun-seok and Kang Dong-won. While The Priests follows two priests dealing with a mysterious possession, Dark Nuns shifts the focus to two women attempting an exorcism themselves.
You don’t need to watch The Priests first to understand Dark Nuns. The newer film introduces its own characters and story, making it accessible to viewers who haven’t seen the original.
For fans of The Priests, however, the connection adds another reason to check it out.
5 Things to Know About Dark Nuns
1. It Was Released in 2025
Dark Nuns was released in South Korea on January 24, 2025, and has a runtime of 114 minutes.
2. It’s a Spin-Off of The Priests
The movie continues the supernatural world introduced in The Priests, but tells a new story centered around Junia and Michaela.
3. Song Hye-kyo Takes on a Very Different Role
Song Hye-kyo steps into the world of Korean occult cinema as Sister Junia, a determined nun willing to break the rules to save a child.
4. Faith and Medicine Collide
Junia believes Hee-joon is possessed, while Father Paolo believes medicine is the answer. Their opposing views become one of the film’s central conflicts.
5. It Was a Box Office Hit in Korea
Dark Nuns opened at No. 1 at the Korean box office during its opening weekend and went on to reach more than 1.67 million admissions in South Korea.
Is Dark Nuns Worth Watching?
If you enjoy Korean supernatural thrillers, Dark Nuns takes a familiar exorcism premise and gives it a different perspective.
Add it to your watchlist if you enjoy:
- Korean horror and supernatural thrillers
- Exorcism and possession movies
- Religious and occult stories
- Mystery-driven horror
- Song Hye-kyo or Jeon Yeo-been
- The Priests and similar Korean thrillers
You also don’t need to watch The Priests first, making Dark Nuns an easy entry point for viewers who are new to the series.
Watch Dark Nuns on Amasian TV
Two nuns. One possessed boy. And an exorcism they’re not supposed to perform.
If you’re looking for a Korean supernatural thriller that mixes mystery, religious themes, and horror, Dark Nuns is now streaming on Amasian TV.