Director: Joon-ho Bong
Genre: Drama/Thriller/Crime
Year: 2003

Based on the true events of South Korea’s most notorious serial killer/rapist, this movie is an overview of the investigation that went into the still unresolved case. Though clearly dramatized, the film still comes across as a powerful, thrilling police drama as a group of investigators rush to try to find the culprit of a number of heinous crimes in the Gyungii Province.

With a team composed of four men, three detectives and a sergeant, the investigation unfolds taking at times unexpected turns, chasing odd clues and at points desperately searching for answers where there is none. The story is well written and advances at a good pace, slowly uncovering the crimes and giving insight into the ways – some more admirable than others – in which the manner was handled, but always focusing on the frustration of the police in their inability to create results. The title itself is quite fitting of the mood of the movie.

Though not entirely familiar with Joon-ho Bong’s work — I have only seen The Host, but have heard great things about Mother, as well — I am quite impressed with his writing and directing, his gift for characterization and the solid delivery of material so that even during the slow parts of the movie, it does not feel like a waste of time, to the point where he is able to make the lengthy 132 minute running time of this movie feel quite easily bearable.

The acting is solid throughout and each character brings something crucial to the table, but the spotlight shines brightly on Kang-ho Song (Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Sympathy for Lady Vengeance, The Host), who plays the flawed, but likable detective Park Doo-man, who is convinced his ‘shaman’ eyes can deduce the truth from the eyes of others. The rest of the cast is equally strong and their bring to the screen believable characters with their own breed of humor that is necessary to break up the dark of the material itself.

A must watch, must own if you are into this sort of genre.

Rating:
Comments: There is a bit of violence (though never gratuitously) along with a number of adult themes and disturbing scenes which include the corpses of rape victims. Very brief nudity. Korean with English subtitles and dub, depending on which you prefer. I also have to say: the detective that spends his life drop kicking the world made me laugh waaay to many times with his impulsiveness.
Recommendations: Another good film along this vein is David Fincher’s Zodiac.