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"Revenge is a dish best served cold", says the old proverb; meaning that revenge can be more satisfying when it is not exacted immediately. Regardless of where you stand morally, some people believe that the process to bring payback and suffering to those that harmed you should be long and drawn; and that long process starts at the beginning. But is it really worth it? That is the point where a desperate man finds himself in this Korean horror thriller.
I Saw the Devil follows Kim Soo-hyun (Lee Byung-huh), a young Secret Service agent that sets out to take revenge on Jang Kyung-chul (Choi Min-sik), the ruthless serial killer that brutally murdered his fiancée. The above is not a statement from the serial killer, but from Kim, who is determined to make Kyung-chul suffer through an elaborate game of cat-and-mouse that will only get worse.
This main premise is nothing new. The downward spiral of a quest for revenge hardly leads to a good place. The horrors committed by Kyung-chul are not hidden, and evident from the first 20 minutes of the film; there is no denying that. But by heading down this path, Kim technically becomes as ruthless as this serial killer. But even though this is a road that has been walked before on other films, a taut direction from Kim Jee-woon, and some solid performances, especially from Choi, make the journey worthwhile.
Kim doesn't really shy away from the violence, but he's not gratuitous either. There is a good balance between what is seen and what is implied. And even though we find early on about who the killer is, the way he focuses on the psyche of both characters make it more interesting than a "whodunit". The twists and turns are effective, and the tension is well drawn.
I do think the film could've benefitted from a bit of a trim. There's a moment where everything that happens to Kim might seem like too much, and some of the events that happen, especially towards the last act, stretch the believability of the story. But a deliciously wicked performance from Choi and a solid emotional anchor from Lee's character make this dish one that's worth tasting, even if it's once.
Grade:
I SAW THE DEVIL
(2010, Kim)
A film with a pronoun in its title
(2010, Kim)
A film with a pronoun in its title
"Don't act so weak... this is just the beginning. Remember... your nightmare's only getting worse!"
"Revenge is a dish best served cold", says the old proverb; meaning that revenge can be more satisfying when it is not exacted immediately. Regardless of where you stand morally, some people believe that the process to bring payback and suffering to those that harmed you should be long and drawn; and that long process starts at the beginning. But is it really worth it? That is the point where a desperate man finds himself in this Korean horror thriller.
I Saw the Devil follows Kim Soo-hyun (Lee Byung-huh), a young Secret Service agent that sets out to take revenge on Jang Kyung-chul (Choi Min-sik), the ruthless serial killer that brutally murdered his fiancée. The above is not a statement from the serial killer, but from Kim, who is determined to make Kyung-chul suffer through an elaborate game of cat-and-mouse that will only get worse.
This main premise is nothing new. The downward spiral of a quest for revenge hardly leads to a good place. The horrors committed by Kyung-chul are not hidden, and evident from the first 20 minutes of the film; there is no denying that. But by heading down this path, Kim technically becomes as ruthless as this serial killer. But even though this is a road that has been walked before on other films, a taut direction from Kim Jee-woon, and some solid performances, especially from Choi, make the journey worthwhile.
Kim doesn't really shy away from the violence, but he's not gratuitous either. There is a good balance between what is seen and what is implied. And even though we find early on about who the killer is, the way he focuses on the psyche of both characters make it more interesting than a "whodunit". The twists and turns are effective, and the tension is well drawn.
I do think the film could've benefitted from a bit of a trim. There's a moment where everything that happens to Kim might seem like too much, and some of the events that happen, especially towards the last act, stretch the believability of the story. But a deliciously wicked performance from Choi and a solid emotional anchor from Lee's character make this dish one that's worth tasting, even if it's once.
Grade: