[Edaily Starin YUN GI BACK Reporter] “A pretty role? They haven’t given me one yet, so I keep playing characters who go through a lot. Haha.”
Hong Kong actress Josie Ho, who visited Korea for the film *The Sorceress Who Picks Up Trash*, was surprisingly laid-back. On screen, she’s the face of genre films—covered in blood as she battles ghosts or dominating the screen with a wild, intense gaze—but in person, she was the first to burst into laughter as she cracked jokes. While she lightened the mood with her signature cheerfulness, as soon as the conversation turned to the film, she calmly shared her concerns and philosophy as an actress. Her statement that “genre films are a space where you can let your imagination run wild” revealed her confidence as a leading actress in the genre.

◇“Not Just a Horror Film, but a Film for People”
Josh Ho, whom we met on the 4th at the Koryo Hotel in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, introduced *The Trash-Picking Monk*, a film invited for its world premiere at the 30th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN), saying, “It would be a shame to view this film as just a simple horror movie.”
*The Trash-Picking Sorcerer* is a mystery horror film in which “Lan,” a sorcerer who communicates with spirits inhabiting discarded objects, and a detective who believes only in logic and evidence, investigate a series of mysterious deaths. Blending the Pang Brothers’ signature eerie horror style with the suspense of a detective drama and a message about Hong Kong society, the film stars Josh Ho as “Lan,” a shaman who bridges the boundary between spirits and humans.
This role presented a new challenge for him, as he had to convey emotions in response to objects and spaces rather than interacting with a co-star.
Josh Ho said, “The character ‘Lan’ that I played is someone who converses with objects inhabited by spirits,” adding, “I prepared for the role with the mindset of reuniting with an imaginary friend from my childhood. I also often recalled the scenes in the movie *Chungking Express* where Tony Leung talks to objects.”
He continued, “I was a child who daydreamed a lot,” adding, “After watching TV or movies, the characters would appear exactly as they were in my dreams, and I often felt as if I were living alongside them. That imagination still helps me a lot when acting in genre films.”

While the unique premise was certainly appealing, what ultimately captivated Josh Ho was the film’s underlying sentiment. Although it is cloaked in the genres of ghosts, the occult, and mystery, the essence of *The Trash-Picking Monk* that he perceived was compassion for others and unconditional love.
“‘Lan’ is a character who helps people without expecting anything in return,” he said. “If watching this film inspires audiences to spare even one more thought for those in need and makes them want to help someone, then I believe that alone makes it a meaningful work.”
He also expressed pride in the film’s visuals. While we live in an era where people immediately think of artificial intelligence (AI) when they see dazzling visuals, he explained that *The Trash-Picking Monk* was a work painstakingly crafted by the actors and crew.
Josh Ho said, “Many people assume we used AI, but that’s not the case at all,” adding, “We only used computer graphics (CG) to a limited extent; most of it was completed through actual filming.” He continued, “In particular, the scenes where the spirits linger and cannot leave were worked on with the CG team for nearly a year,” noting, “It’s the result of a tremendous amount of time and effort from so many people.”
Josh Ho smiled and remarked, “I’ve heard that Korean CG technology is truly outstanding,” adding, “I’d like to work with a Korean CG team again on my next project.”

◇“I’d love to play a pretty role… but I enjoy genre films the most”
True to an actor who has dedicated his career to genre films, his philosophy on acting was clear. He said the greatest appeal of genre films is the ability to express emotions that are difficult to explain in real life.
Josh Ho said, “If the director clearly explains the character to me, I tend to trust that world completely without doubt,” adding, “The process of fully immersing myself in the character is truly enjoyable. That’s why I still love genre films the most.”
Yet he never lost his signature cheerfulness. “In Hong Kong, I’m always cast in roles where I’m picking up trash or going through hardships,” Josh Ho said with a laugh. “Hong Kong and the West have slightly different standards of beauty. I used to find that a bit disappointing, but these days, more and more people appreciate my looks and vibe.” He continued, “Still, I haven’t played many ‘pretty’ roles yet,” and joked, “I guess I’ll just have to keep acting until I get one.”

He also made no secret of his affection for Korean films. Josh Ho said, “Korean movies are really popular in Hong Kong as well,” adding, “I like ‘Oldboy’ and actors like Song Kang-ho, Choi Min-sik, and Lee Na-young. I was also deeply impressed by the works of directors Bong Joon-ho and Park Chan-wook.”
He went on to express his enthusiasm, saying, “If I get the chance, I’d definitely like to star in a genre film alongside Korean actors,” and “Acting on a Korean film set would be a great honor as an actor.”
He never lost his smile throughout the interview. Just as he joked, “It would be nice to play a pretty role, but it’s okay if I don’t,” Josh Ho remained an actor who enjoys his own world of genre films more than anyone else.