A scene from the film “Holy Night: Demon Hunters.” Courtesy of Lotte Entertainment

"Ma Dong-seok, now he's beating up demons!” “His first venture into occult action!” “Get ready for a new level of exhilarating Ma Dong-seok-style action!"

These promotional taglines introduce “Holy Night: Demon Hunters,” which hits theaters on April 30. The film is being openly promoted as the "occult version" of “The Roundup Series,” a film franchise by, of, and for actor and producer Ma Dong-seok. It is tempting to lean on the power of its four installments, which have mobilized more than 30 million viewers overall, as it is a guaranteed box office success. There is even a joke that the acronym “MCU,” typically short for “Marvel Cinematic Universe,” stands for “Ma Dong-seok Cinematic Universe” in Korea.

The problem, however, is that Ma’s screen persona has become so fixed that every film he stars in tends to feel like more of the same. “Holy Night: Demon Hunters” is also unlikely to avoid that criticism. Ma finds himself facing the dilemma of a surefire box office success, yet accused of being formulaic. We sat down with Ma to talk about the latest film and his character.

Meeting with reporters on April 24 at a café in Seoul’s Samcheong-dong, Ma said, “During the script development stage, there were suggestions to try a completely different character, but after discussions, we decided to stick with the traditional ‘Ma Dong-seok character.’ I think audiences will find it familiar.” While clearly recognizing the cinematic limitations of his well-established image, the majority of the film crew wanted to “maintain the status quo.” In this film, Ma is not only the lead actor but also a producer. He was involved in casting the director as well as the main and supporting actors.

A consistent character can actually be a huge asset for an actor. When people hear “Ma Dong-seok,” they instantly think of a certain image or film. Jackie Chan, the Hong Kong action star, is a prime example of this kind of actor. “I dreamed of becoming an action star like Jackie Chan since I was a kid,” said Ma. “Whether it’s a historical drama or a crime thriller, I think I’ll continue reflecting the Ma Dong-seok character in action films for the time being, just like Jackie Chan carved out a niche as a character actor.”

“Holy Night: Demon Hunters” is set in a city under siege by a cult that worships evil. The story centers on a team of exorcists called “Holy Night,” who step in to fight back. The group includes Kang Bau (played by Ma Dong-seok), who physically takes down demons, Sharon (Seohyun), a shaman who performs exorcisms; and Kim Gun (Lee David), a tech expert who handles things like filming. The plot kicks off when a doctor named Jung-won (Kyung Soo-jin) visits their office, begging them to save her sister Eun-seo (Jung Ji-so), who has been possessed by a demon.

Ma said, “I watched hundreds of horror films,” while preparing the script with director Lim Dae-hee, who made his feature film debut with the new film. While the genre of the film technically falls under "occult action," Ma described it more as a “dark hero story,” adding that they tried to give the film a unique twist to make it not similar to the existing occult films.

Although audiences are likely to see the film as a Ma’s showcase, he insists that “the heart of the film lies in the confrontation between the characters Sharon and the possessed Eun-seo. “I’m more like the bodyguard who removes demons around them,” he said.

True to the genre, the film leans heavily on Computer Graphic and sound effects, with plenty of creepy moments, like wide, ghostly eyes popping up out of nowhere. But it also features Ma’s signature humor, with frequent scenes designed to get a chuckle.

Still, viewers hoping for a fresh take on the “occult action” genre may walk away disappointed. Unlike “The Outlaws” and ”The Roundup,” where Yoon Kye-sang and Son Suk-ku delivered memorable villain performances, “Holy Night: Demon Hunters” lacks a strong antagonist. And it is also hard to expect the narrative cohesion of the horror film “Exhuma” that attracted over 10 million viewers.

That said, the brand of Ma Dong-seok is expected to inject some much-needed energy into a sluggish theater industry still reeling from last year’s martial law declaration. “We focused a lot on the sound and the impact of the action so people would feel a real difference watching it in theaters,” said Ma. “I really hope a lot of people will visit theaters to see it.”