The Priests (2015) Plot Summary Explained

Father Kim suspected demonic possession because the girl's coma showed unnatural symptoms that went beyond typical head trauma. After the hit-and-run, she developed unusual bodily rashes and other disturbing signs that medical treatment couldn't explain. As a priest experienced in spiritual matters, Kim recognized these as indicators of supernatural influence rather than purely physical injury.

• demonic possession
• exorcism
• father kim
• young-shin
• coma
• supernatural

The summary states that two priests were responsible for the hit-and-run that injured Young-shin, though the exact circumstances are not detailed in the provided text. This incident is what initially draws Father Kim into the case, as he grapples with the knowledge that members of his own clergy caused the girl's condition.

• hit-and-run
• priests accident
• young-shin
• parish

Choi fled the exorcism because the demon's overwhelming force terrified him and he felt unable to continue. However, he later returned with renewed determination after reflecting on Father Kim's words about faith and perseverance. Kim reminded him that the ministry isn't in vain and the reward lies in the Lord's hands, which restored Choi's resolve to face the danger.

• choi
• seminarian
• exorcism
• faith
• flee
• return

Malphas is described as an ancient demon, far more dangerous than Father Kim and Choi initially anticipated. The Rosicrucian sect informed them that two of their own priests had already been killed by this same demon, establishing its lethal power and historical threat level. Its ancient nature means it possesses tremendous supernatural strength and resistance to exorcism.

• malphas
• demon
• ancient
• dangerous
• rosicrucian
• exorcism

Police arrived to arrest them following a complaint from Young-shin's traumatized parents, who believed the priests had killed her during the exorcism ritual. Though Young-shin was in a coma and still technically alive, the parents interpreted the exorcism as causing her death. This wrongful accusation forced Choi to flee with the piglet while Kim faced legal consequences.

• police
• arrest
• young-shin parents
• exorcism
• accusation

Confining the demon in a piglet was the core strategy of the exorcism ritual. Rather than simply expelling the demon, they sought to trap it within an animal vessel. This approach would contain the evil spirit and prevent it from harming Young-shin further, effectively saving her life by transferring the demonic presence to the pig.

• piglet
• demon confinement
• exorcism ritual
• trapped demon

Choi drowned the pig in the river following Father Kim's direction, which referenced Luke 8:33. The act of drowning the pig bearing the confined demon was necessary to fully destroy the demon's hold on Young-shin. This final step completed the exorcism by killing the vessel that contained the evil spirit, severing its connection to the girl.

• drown pig
• river
• luke 8:33
• demons end
• exorcism completion

Drowning the pig killed the animal that housed the confined demon Malphas. With the demon's vessel destroyed, its hold on Young-shin was broken. Immediately after the pig died, Young-shin began showing signs of life and the supernatural rashes that had afflicted Father Kim and Choi disappeared, confirming the exorcism was successful.

• young-shin saved
• pig death
• demon destroyed
• rashes disappear

The rashes that appeared on Father Kim and Choi during the exorcism were physical manifestations of the demon's presence affecting them. Once the pig containing the confined demon was drowned and the demon was destroyed, these supernatural symptoms vanished. The disappearance confirmed the demon had been fully exorcised and could no longer affect them.

• rashes
• demon manifestation
• physical symptoms
• exorcism effects

During a critical moment, Father Kim quoted Isaiah 49:4, telling Choi that the ministry isn't in vain and the reward belongs to the Lord. Choi responded by quoting Ezekiel 2:6, declaring he was ready to face whatever comes. These scripture exchanges represented a passing of spiritual torch, with the experienced priest reassuring the younger seminarian that their struggle had meaning regardless of the outcome.

Foreshadowing: The Isaiah quote foreshadows the difficult road ahead where rewards seem distant

• isaiah 49:4
• ezekiel 2:6
• scripture
• faith
• spiritual battle

Young-shin's parents were traumatized by their daughter's unexplained coma and the extreme religious ritual they witnessed. Seeing the priests performing an exorcism on their comatose daughter, they misinterpreted the procedure as the cause of her death. Their grief and confusion led them to file a complaint accusing the priests of killing Young-shin, not understanding the exorcism was an attempt to save her.

• parents accusation
• grief
• trauma
• misunderstanding
• police complaint