Directed by Kim Jee-woon [Other horror films: Joyonghan gajok (1998), Keomingaus (2000), Sam gang (2002), Janghwa, Hongryun (2003), Illyumyeolmangbogoseo (2012)]
Commonly known under the title I Saw the Devil, this South Korean film is a true treat. A bloody and brutal story of revenge, Angmareul boatda would likely make most horror fans happy, and perhaps more important, most movie fans happy.
Certainly it’s not a movie for everyone, though. When you have a film that has so much violence – someone’s Achilles heal being cut, very bloody stabbings, a decapitation that brings with it some emotional impact, a cannibal eating some of that scrumptious human flesh – some people won’t much care for it. Luckily, though, if you’ve a fan of thrillers, or action films, or revenge movies in general, this may be of interest. Personally, like Battle Royale, I think there’s enough here to classify it as a horror film, but also like Battle Royale, it’s true to say that the movie’s far more than that.
Following a man’s revenge after a serial killer dismembers his fiancée, I Saw the Devil is a depressing and rather dark film. It’s fun watching Lee Byung-hun’s character get his revenge, but all the while, he’s becoming more and more similar to the man he’s chasing, and when things stop going his way, they really stop going his way (not that the murder of his wife was going his way, but to all things, there is a season). It’s not a happy movie, and the finale is also not ringing of hopefulness. Even so, it’s definitely a well-made one.
And obviously, you don’t need me to tell you that. I Saw the Devil is a very well-known and well-respected film. It currently has a 7.8/10 on IMDb with over 138,000 votes, so this isn’t some kind of hidden gem. The cinematography is stellar, the story is simple, yet engaging, and the special effects here really add a lot to applaud.
Oh, and it’s also two hours and twenty minutes long. It’s a lengthy boi, but like I said, that doesn’t at all hurt how engaging the film is, and while it’s not wall-to-wall action, there’s not many five-minute stretches here without something to get you going, which is certainly impressive.
I don’t think I have complaints about any of the cast. Lee Byung-hun (Three… Extremes) made for a stellar lead, and Choi Min-sik (The Quiet Family) a despicable and memorable antagonist. These two were great together. Others I particularly enjoyed were Jeon Gook-hwan, Moo-Seong Choi, Yoon-seo Kim, and Lee Jun-hyuk. Again, most performances were great, but it’s really Byung-hun and Min-sik who steal the show.
It’s an action-packed film with a lot going for it. It’s a lot more violent than your average action film, but I can imagine that if you’re into movies like The Raid, than this would appeal to it. Certainly it’s far from a typical horror film, but like I said, there’s a lot here that would appeal to fans of the genre.
When I first watched I Saw the Devil, I was impressed. I forget how many years ago that was, but it’s been so long that I forgot a lot of where the story went. I remembered the basics – someone’s woman gets killed, and he seeks revenge – but I forgot a lot of the details, which I’m grateful for. This was a fantastic film to revisit, and if it’s not a movie you’ve seen, then perhaps this South Korean treat should make it’s way onto your want-to-see list.
9/10
Jiggy's Horror Corner 