Focus Features

A priest becomes a vampire…another man’s wife is coveted…a deadly seduction triggers murder. Thirst is the new film from director Park Chan-wook (Old Boy, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Sympathy for Lady Vengeance). Already a boxoffice smash in Korea, Thirst was honored with the Prix du Jury [Jury Prize] at the 2009 Cannes International Film Festival.

Continuing his explorations of human existence in extreme circumstances, the director spins a tale that he conceived and then developed over several years with co-screenwriter Chung Seo-kyung.

Sang-hyun (played by top Korean star Song Kang-ho, of The Host) is a priest who cherishes life; so much so, that he selflessly volunteers for a secret vaccine development project meant to eradicate a deadly virus. But the virus takes the priest, and a blood transfusion is urgently ordered up for him. The blood he receives is infected, so Sang-hyun lives – but now exists as a vampire. Struggling with his newfound carnal desire for blood, Sang-hyun’s faith is further strained when a childhood friend’s wife, Tae-ju (Kim Ok-vin), comes to him asking for his help in escaping her life. Sang-hyun soon plunges into a world of sensual pleasures, finding himself on intimate terms with the Seven Deadly Sins.

A CJ Entertainment and Focus Features International presentation of a Moho Film production. A Park Chan-wook Film. Song Kang-ho, Kim Ok-vin. Thirst. Kim Hae-sook, Shin Ha-kyun. Music by Cho Young-uk. Sound Recordist, Jung Gun. Sound Designed by Kim Suk-won, Kim Chang-sub. Costume Designer, Cho Sang-kyung. Make-up and Hair Designer, Song Jong-hee. Production Designer, Ryu Seong-Hie. Edited by Kim Sang-bum, Kim Jae-bum. Visual Effects Supervisor, Lee Jeon-Hyung. Lighting by Park Hyun-won. Cinematographer, Chung Chung-hoon. Investment Executive, Sean Lee. Associate Producer, Joon H. Choi. Co-Executive Producer, Katharine Kim. Executive Producer, Miky Lee. Produced by Park Chan-wook, Ahn Soo-hyun. Inspired by Émile Zola’s Thérèse Raquin. Written by Park Chan-wook, Chung Seo-kyung. Directed by Park Chan-wook. A Focus Features Release.