I Saw the Devil

I Saw the Devil is one of Kim Ji-woon's more controversial films. Released in 2010 as a psychological thriller/horror starring Lee Byunghun and Choi Min-sik, the Korean Media Rating Board had asked Director Kim to recut the film so it would pass a rating to release in theaters and at home. After seven tries, the film was finally released on acceptable terms.

Plot

On a snowy night, school bus driver Kyung-chul happens to be driving home when finding a young woman stranded in her car from a flat tire. Stopping off to one side, Kyung-chul approaches Joo-yun whose talking to her fiancé, Soo-hyun. Nevertheless, Kyung-chul offers to help with her flat tire, but Joo-yun refuses and stays locked inside only to await a tow-truck.

It isn't long before NIS (National Intelligence Service) agent Soo-hyun has to disconnect his call. Leaving Joo-yun to the silence of the abandoned roads, she's then attacked by Kyung-chul who breaks open her car, kidnaps her, and eventually kills her. To cover up his tracks, Kyung-chul cuts her limb from limb and scatters her body parts all about the desolate surroundings.

The next morning, a young boy finds a severed ear before alerting authorities which ignites a search for Joo-yun who had gone missing not too long ago. With her father, Squad Chief Jang arriving with desperation, he's shocked to find forensics pulling mutilated parts of his daughter's body. It isn't long before Soo-hyun arrives on the scene as well and is traumatized by the sight of his lover who has befallen the most heinous attacks.

At Joo-yun's funeral, Soo-hyun is unable to mourn for his soulmate. But it's there that he vows to track down Joo-yun's killer.

His hunt begins with four potential suspects, Kyung-chul being one of them. Tracked down by a revenge-filled Soo-hyun does a war between both parties erupt. And it isn't long before Soo-hyun loses sight of what he truly stands for while descending into the pits of his own psychological evils.

Overall

I've watched this movie nearly a thousand times and it never seems to lose my interest. The first time I found this on Netflix, I knew I had to watch it mainly because Choi Min-sik and Lee Byunghun as lead actors are the best. And combination wise? Absolutely perfect.

Kim Ji-woon is a director that often takes on challenges to fulfill throughout his storylines and the fact that I Saw the Devil had to be recut seven times just to be released in theaters says a lot of the things portrayed in this movie.

There are many indications of Kyung-chul's character. He's not only a serial murderer, but a rapist. While the movie itself doesn't show the graphic nature of it, the mention or portrayal of what could be is uncomforting to many. Also, there's a lot of violence in which Kim Ji-woon hasn't held back in. Directing out the elaborate fight scenes and graphic nature of psychological horrors is something that I would advise to those that are willing to watch this piece.

Not only are we thrown into a world of pure madness through I Saw the Devil, we also see character development that is very raw. Lee Byunghun portrays an excellent secret service agent that is made up to be tough and unnerving. When he pursues the four potential victims that could've killed his soon-to-be wife, you see this monstrous being bursting out of this eccentric character.

Now with a need for bloodshed and chaos against the man that has taken everything from him, Soo-hyun goes from a very well disciplined individual to a rugged, weak man trying to establish his own sense of justice.

The consequences that are followed through this game of cat and mouse is very well depicted. And even in the end after the deed is done and all should be fair, you see the true emotion of Soo-hyun who hadn't allowed himself to grieve come pouring out in realization that his fiancé is gone and that the man he was at the beginning of the story isn't the man he was at the end.

I'd say if you're a fan of the Saw series or can handle blood, gore and very explicit scenes, do give I Saw the Devil a shot and you simply won't regret it.