Kim Jaejoong is returning to the big screen with his first-ever foray into the occult horror genre.

Production company Mystery Pictures confirmed on January 13 that the film Shrine: Whisper of the Evil Spirit, directed by Kazuyoshi Kumakiri, will receive an early theatrical release in Japan on February 6.

The occult horror follows a group of university students who begin disappearing one by one while conducting a field investigation at an abandoned mountain shrine in Kobe, Japan.

Kim Jaejoong stars as Myungjin, a shaman standing at the boundary between gods and demons. Marking his first challenge in the horror genre, he portrays a dark hero with a commanding presence, delivering a layered performance that anchors the film's tension.

Actress Gong Seong-ha appears opposite him as Yumi, Myungjin's junior from university and a project manager. The story tracks their joint pursuit to uncover the true identity behind the evil spirit haunting the shrine.

Director Kazuyoshi Kumakiri, known for Yoko's Journey (2023), previously swept three awards at the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival. Shrine: Whisper of the Evil Spirit marks his first time directing a Korean production, raising expectations for a distinctive blend of psychological depth and extreme emotional intensity within the occult horror framework.

The film was shot entirely on location in Kobe, the story's setting, heightening the ominous atmosphere and sense of realism embedded in the space itself.

Following its Japan release, Shrine: Whisper of the Evil Spirit is set to meet audiences in Korea as well.