Actor Ma Dong Seok, previously known for his powerful punches, is now receiving criticism for delivering performances that are deemed lacking in emotion, effort, and authenticity. His latest film 'The Holy Night: Demon Hunters,' which he produced, co-wrote, and starred in, was released on April 30th in South Korea but failed to captivate audiences. Despite Ma's ambitious plans to expand the film's concept, it fell short of expectations and was perceived as lacking substance.

The movie, which was completed in September 2021 but delayed for four years, struggled to attract viewers and failed to match the success of other recent films. Despite high initial expectations, the film's performance at the box office was disappointing, with just 85,679 viewers during the peak of the holiday season, ranking fourth with a total audience of 585,023. The film's break-even point of 2 million viewers now seems unattainable.

Initially, there was optimism surrounding Ma's return to the screen with 'The Holy Night,' but the film's popularity quickly waned after the first day of release. Negative word of mouth and poor viewer reviews further contributed to its decline. Despite Ma Dong Seok's star power, the film's reservation rate was low, signaling its impending exit from theaters.

Critics attribute the film's failure to Ma Dong Seok's complacent storytelling style, which has been perceived as repetitive and lacking in creativity. While Ma plans to continue with projects like 'The Outlaws 8' and the production of 'The Outlaws 5,' audiences are left questioning if they can expect more of the same from the actor. To regain success, Ma may need to revisit the sincerity and originality that initially garnered him acclaim.