I Saw the Devil

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. (01/02/2011)

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%. (07/29/2019)

An uncomfortably naturalistic spectacle that incorporates the old familiar concept of "righteous vengeance" as well as serial murder. With the exception of the first half hour, this is indeed a strong revenge movie, in which the psychology of the two main characters is pretty sparse (we learn absolutely nothing about the killer's past), which on the other hand gives more room for gore and action scenes. At its core, it's a very superficial and overexposed contribution to the serial killer genre, but it can't be denied a few strong scenes and formally a completely professional execution. (10/15/2019)

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. (12/08/2010)

In a way, it's a work of genius. On the other hand, I'm a little ashamed to be so positive about so much evil. But I've been taught that "such is life". I have huge sympathy for Byeong-heon Lee and I understood all his inhumane actions the whole time. He simply had a lot to avenge. Again, no one could have been better chosen for the role of the devil than Min-sik Choi. I often thought it was too open-ended, but otherwise the viewer probably wouldn't have properly felt the desire for revenge. My 5 stars are for the fantastic script and great acting and direction. (10/02/2011)