I Saw the Devil

Don’t act so weak, this is just the beginning. Remember, your nightmare’s only getting worse.

I Saw the Devil is a chilling and harshly disturbing South Korean film that relentlessly examines the blurred lines between good and evil. Directed by Kim Jee-woon, the movie follows the story of a secret agent seeking vengeance for his fiancé’s brutal murder by a sadistic serial killer. I knew this film would be violent, but I was unprepared for the graphic intensity of some of the barbaric scenes that characterize the movie.

The film has a unique approach to revenge as a motif, with the protagonist becoming a vigilante, unleashing a series of gruesome retribution that pushes the boundaries of morality beyond reasonable imagination. I Saw the Devil is undoubtedly unsettling, but the cruel violence serves a purpose in conveying the film’s extreme themes of obsession and vengeance. Choi Min-sik and Lee Byung-hun deliver exceptional performances as the antagonist and protagonist, adding incredible depth to each character. The Tom-and-Jerryesque chase between them is relentless and psychologically captivating, keeping you on edge the entire movie.

I Saw the Devil is provocatively tense and suspenseful, brilliantly shot and directed, and has a harrowing soundtrack that intensifies the atmosphere and fits each scene perfectly. The film delves into extremely dark aspects of human nature and retaliation, leading to a superbly crafted horror that requires a strong stomach and a curiosity of the sickeningly morbid.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching this, but I’m hesitant to recommend it to family, friends, or anyone whose mental and emotional well-being I care about.

I will kill you when you are in the most pain. When you’re in the most pain, shivering out of fear, then I will kill you. That’s a real revenge. A real complete revenge.