I Saw the Devil

I'm all cool with blood and guts on screen; severed body parts and organs don't make me nauseous, and bleeding only annoys me if it is my own and it doesn't seem to be stopping. Despite being okay with all that, this movie didn't sit right with me. I guess I'm just not a fan of watching some mentally messed-up sadist getting off on torturing women. Funny thing, torturing guys doesn't bother me the same way; seems more fair for some reason. While a good chunk of the violence turned my stomach, I was into the other part. I got the main message of the movie and agreed with it, but I couldn't help rooting for the main avenger. Feels like there's a surge in psychologists worldwide, but the number of executioners is going down. Anyway, I didn't get bored for a second despite the somewhat excessive length. Props to the South Korean creators for pulling off a solid effort.  / Lesson learned: If you embark on a journey of revenge, always keep wet wipes handy. (2023-07-19)

Ha, I don't even know why I've put off this pinnacle of Asian cinema for so long. The great director, the amazing leading duo, the perfect cinematography, the excellent technical aspect, the decent idea, the solid pace and, most of all, the awesome and uncompromising gore effects brought me a unique cinematic experience and one of the best serial killer movies that I will remember with pleasure for a very long time. 100% (2014-11-21)

I’m accustomed to intense material from Koreans, which you rarely find in American or European films, but I Saw the Devil would probably fit into a category of its own. The naturalistic depiction of violence and unsettling situations that make you uncomfortable during viewing is quite rare. At times, I actually hesitated to continue watching the film, not due to any lack of quality, but because of the explicitness that permeates every aspect of it. However, I overcame that impulse and was ultimately glad I did. I have to commend the filmmakers for their bravery in portraying the actions of a serial killer in such an unacceptable manner for many people. The two main characters are played by renowned actors from the Asian peninsula, and the audience immediately understands that they will be treated to a script with finely crafted dialogue down to the smallest detail. The conversations between the characters are among the most intricate aspects of the film. However, I must point out one flaw: the lack of a more impactful ending. Yes, the conclusion cannot be described as bad or poorly executed, but the buildup suggested it could be one of the best detective thrillers, and the actual climax left me expecting something even grander. Still, I can recommend it. I’m giving it 81%. (2019-07-30)

Too lengthy, too inconsistent. Ji-un Kim knows how to make a film, I won’t argue against that, but I don’t know whether I was supposed to get something out of this one, or only be entertained (or something else), it didn’t succeed at either anyway. I just watched it without much interest and forgot about it. There are a couple of suggestive scenes, the violence is unpleasant, but as a whole it’s from a different realm than I like visiting. (2010-12-09)

I Saw the Devil follows the ordinary thriller template of “lawful avenger versus serial killer”, but it’s so naturalistically brutal that we’d never see anything like it in its Hollywood counterparts. This cruel and cynically funny film will captivate you and won’t let go. There are some lapses but they don’t spoil the overall impression. The formal aspect and acting performances are brilliant, and had the screenplay been more sophisticated, I’d give it five stars. It’s not for the faint of heart. (2011-01-02)