I Saw the Devil (2010)
Written By: DMG
Edited By: Grave Reviews Staff
Film Information
Director: Kim Jee-woon
Producer: Kim Hyun-woo
Screenwriter: Park Hoon-jung
Date Released: August 12, 2010
Cast:
Lee Byung-hun as Kim Soo-hyun,
Choi Min-sik as Jang Kyung-chul,
Oh San-ha as Jang Joo-yun
Jeon Gook-hwan as Squad Chief Jang
Kim Yoon-seo as Jang Se-yun
Chun Ho-jin as Section Chief Oh
Rating = 4 out of 5 Graves
***May contain some spoilers***
Synopsis
I Saw the Devil, released in 2010, is a Korean Film about a secret agent named Kim Soo-Hyeon (played by Byung-Hun Lee), who seeks revenge on his wife’s murderer. The murderer, Kyung-Chul (played by Min-sik Choi) is a serial killer and rapist, who demonstrates merciless and emotionless acts against his victims. I Saw the Devil is not a simple revenge movie, but rather a film that toys with the minds of the audience. Agent Soo-Hyeon becomes a monster to challenge the monster and the film soon becomes a fight between two evils.
Gore Factor
This film is very brutal. Within the first ten minutes of the film, you will be subject to blood, guts and body parts. The film continues to get even worse throughout the movie. Sometimes the cause of the bloodshed is not the result of the person you would expect it to come from. There is even a component of cannibalism that is portrayed in this film. Other torture concepts in this film also add a grotesque component that will stun the audience. What I loved about the gore element of this film is not only the way the blood splatter was illustrated but also the kind of ways the deaths and injuries occurred. If you have a weak stomach, this film is probably not for you.
The Grave Review
Both Byung -Hun Lee and Min-sik Choi are excellent actors, have demonstrated their abilities in other films. Choi was in the successful film, Old Boy (2003) and Lee had previously acted in the film, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009). Both actors bring a twisted and disturbing style of acting to this film. Lee portrays a calm-mannered but deeply disturbed individual who struggles with the traumatic events that took place in his life. Choi has an emotionless and twisted demeanor that makes him an excellent antagonist in the film. Overall, the cast along with their chemistry was excellent.
“REVENGE IS FOR THE MOVIES” – I Saw the Devil
I Saw the Devil (2010) makes good use of their city environments along with abandoned warehouses. Not only do these environments work well with the storyline, but also the minor details are well done. For example, in a warehouse scene, the chains and the blades are rusted, the attention to detail of the person’s skin is very pronounced, and the background work is filled in with the appropriate props.
I Saw The Devil (2010) is certainly not a feel-good movie. The film is revenge in its purest form. There are no breaks and there are no happy moments. Personally, the film was intended to be both upsetting and disturbing. The film did just that. The character, Kyung-Chul is pure evil and the trauma he causes to Agent Soo-hyeon is both heart-wrenching and sad. However, the film the very well done and left the audience in suspense at every moment. I would recommend this film to my fellow horror and gore fans.
For the foregoing reasons, Grave Review gives I Saw The Devil (2010) 4 graves out of 5 graves.
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