There's that old line about needing to fight fire with fire...that to defeat evil you must become evil yourself. Seldom has that notion been better told than in I SAW THE DEVIL, the latest film from Korean director Kim Ji-Woon.
The film focuses on a killer - a man named Kyung-chul played by Oldboy himself, Min-sik Choi. He kills randomly, with no pattern or purpose, and one night kills a young women just moments after she hangs up the phone with her fiancee Joo-Yeon. Unfortunately for Kyung-chul, this was the wrong move, since Joo-Yeon is so devestated by her murder, that he comes looking for him to reap his own brand of justice.
Joo-Yeon isn't just looking to find Kyung-chul and kill him - an eye for an eye as it were. No, he wants Kyung-chul to feel every ounce of pain that he and his lost love felt and continue to feel. Thus the two become involved in a wickedly vicious game of catch-and-release.
As I mentioned in the podcast, this could easily be the most violent movie I have ever watched. Kim Ji-Woon makes you feel every stab and slice, and employs some of the most painful tricks imaginable. While the cut I saw is likely not going to be the cut that plays to the masses, it's still gonna be a tough go - so don't say I didn't warn you.
Violence aside, its the story of I SAW THE DEVIL that's so enticing. This is not just a manhunt, but a game between two twisted men who seem to have lost all regard for society's rules. They find themselves playing a twisted game of cat-and-mouse, and neither one really seems all that interested in actually winning so much as they want to see how long they can keep playing.
dark and demented as it all is, it has a certain poetry about it that keeps you with the movie when you might otherwise walk out/turn off the dvd. It is perfectly constructed and even keeps the viewer engaged past the point where it feels like the film should end...but it doesn't end because there's still one more step to take.
Quite simply, the film is an amazing watch...just don't say I didn't warn you.
I SAW THE DEVIL plays TIFF once more -Today at 5:30pm
Thursday, September 16, 2010
TIFF Review: I SAW THE DEVIL
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6 comments:
The most violent? Coming from a man I assume has watched at least Oldboy, that must be saying much. Damn.
I've been avoiding TIFF stuff like the plague this year (for reasons I imagine you understand - http://prettyh.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html ), but I'm looking forward to seeing this one. I loved "Oldboy," and I actually just got "Lady Vengeance" from my ZipList today (a re-watch from a few years back), so I'm in the zone. :)
O/T, I know, but Mr. Crary and I have been discussing the "Red Riding" trilogy quite a bit lately (I've seen the first two; he hasn't caught them yet), and I wondered if I'd missed your review on them or if you've not gotten around to it just yet. Let me know where to look when you do! (Same goes for "Martyrs," if you can stand to watch it. I'm not sure a more violent/sick/jaw-droppingly horrifying movie exists. That was waaaaaaay over my threshold of cinematic hell. Everyone who follows me on Twitter must've wondered what on earth I was subjecting myself to that morning...and it was my birthday, no less!)
Wow, I have to see this. I love movies like this. 'Oldboy' was freaking awesome.
@ Simon... Yup - watched OLDBOY for the first time about six or seven weeks ago. This is way worse.
@ E... (Good to hear from ya, was worried you weren't reading anymore!). Yeah, that makes sense. If I might suggest though, when the whole she-bang wraps up, get your fanny over to The Lightbox. All reports are that they have created something truly special and they have a lot of amazing things coming between now and year's end.
Haven't seen RED RIDING yet, and can't say just how soon I'll get to them. I've heard lots of good things, but the fall is pretty bad for me renting films...what with so many good things to be seen at the theatre and TV season starting back up.
When I do check them out, I'll be sure to let you know.
@ edgar... Looks like you're in luck as The Weinsteins just picked this film up. Should be hitting American screens in the new year.
You got me at "This is not just a manhunt, but a game between two twisted men who seem to have lost all regard for society's rules."... I've loved every korean movie I've seen and recently I decided to assume those are the movies I really enjoy (Kim Ki-duk, Park Chan-wook, Kim Ji-woon are some of my favorite directors of all times).
I think I'm in love with asian films, their way of telling stories, their sense of humor, the use of color, everything is attractive!
Those Koreans sure do love their violence. This sounds like a winner to me... I'm in!
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