'' Thirst '' ( ; literally : '' Bat '' ) is a 2009 South Korean erotic horror film written , produced and directed by Park Chan-wook . It is loosely based on the novel '' Thérèse Raquin '' by Émile Zola . The film tells the story of a Catholic priest — who is in love with his friend ’s wife — turning into a vampire through a failed medical experiment . Park has stated , " This film was originally called ' The Bat ' to convey a sense of horror . After all , it is about vampires . But it is also more than that . It is about passion and a love triangle . I feel that it is unique because it is not just a thriller , and not merely a horror film , but an illicit love story as well . " The film won the Jury Prize at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival . It is the first mainstream Korean film to feature full-frontal male nudity
2009 Cannes Film Festival
2009 Cannes Film Festival
Thirst (2009 film)