I Saw the Devil

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%. (29/07/2019)

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. (02/01/2011)

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% (20/11/2014)

I was ready for everything, from pure brutal carnage to an experimental revenge-thriller, where all the murders would be served exclusively to the accompaniment of classical music or sped-up editing, but in the end I got, how to say it politely.... nothing. Not that I'm questioning a certain formal level, the impressive sets, the believable actors or a few rather suggestive shots, but in short, I've learned to expect a bit more from these foreign film than just shocking content completely devoid of common sense or a sense of proper hyperbole. I Saw the Devil has such a bad script that every twist and turn dissipates the tension that has been painstakingly built up, and even, which is unheard of, all the main characters leave with the label "dumbass" on their foreheads. Moreover, the brutality is nowhere near the level needed to move the story into a more friendly experiential league, and so the only truly positive things remain a few nice references to other genre works and a poignant sexual undertone that, at least at times, brings to mind the atmosphere of twisted human souls so familiar from The Silence of the Lambs or Se7en. 45% (17/08/2015)

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. (08/12/2010)