La mémoire assassine

Im stunned! I really didn't have any clue how the movie gonna end up. One thing I have to say, it's gonna blow your mind. I would have rated this 10/10 but I really didn't get the ending. It's so confusing...

Memento meets Dexter which at times reminds of The Wailing and Insomnia. Byung-Su is a former serial killer who is living with his daughter and has got Alzheimer's disease. When new killings start to happen he suspects a young police inspector to be the culprit but not sure if he himself has been doing the murders and forgetting it. Sul Kyoung-Gu gives an incredible performance as Byung-Su and carries the whole film. The film keeps the audience guessing what's actually happening, a bit too much. The effect of domestic violence and relationships are touched upon. The mysterious mood is kept throughout the film which was effective in engaging the audience.

I can only assume that to be true - I only watched the theatrical cut. Which is more than fine - don't get me wrong, but from what I've read about the Directors cut ... that is where the money is at. Or the cuts ... or the action ... or the extended ending for that matter.

Having said all that, the movie is another great example of an excellent (thriller) movie from South Korea. I am almost surprised I haven't heard anything about an American Remake yet. They probably can't keep up remaking those great movies ... sometimes getting them (somewhat) right, but also often just plainly failing in getting to the core that made movies like this one great.

Excellent performances and a moral complexity that will make your head spin. And that is without all the narration, the what is real and what is not. Just when you think you've guessed everything right ... another twist will sweep you of your feet. But it is the humanity of the story, it is the character driven (great) acting that will keep you on the edge of your seat. And scenes where a match lights up the dark revealing ... something "sinister". And being more shocking (as in horror) than your average horror movie from the States.

So while I have unfortunately not seen the Directors cut (yet), I can only imagine I would like it even better and go the full 10/10 on it ... be it as it may, this is an excellent watch as well.

One of the biggest reasons other than availability in OTT that this classic has been missed en large by Indian audiences is that it is confused with Bong Joon-ho's immortal 2003 blockbuster Memories of Murder.

While Won Shin-yun's 2017 tale does not rise up to that level, it is nevertheless a compelling, gut-wrenching tale of deceit, violence and outright blatant evil that will constantly keep you guessing.

The brilliant Sol Kyung-gu plays a retired serial killer who is suffering from bouts of dementia and the onset of Alzheimer's Disease. He encounters another serial killer in the city only to have no one believe him because of his illness and to add insult to injury, the same killer starts to pursue his daughter as a love interest.

The story moves at breakneck speed from there, constantly throwing up unexpected surprises and twists till the audience is as confused and disoriented as the lead character with his constant memory lapses.

Following the same non-linear narrative as Memento (2000), the director excels at building up the suspense without ever dragging the narrative, threading the needle and keeping the audience on a knife edge.

A masterclass in storytelling among Korean thrillers. Watch the full director's cut if you want your mind blown again.

Highly recommended!

The lead is one of SK's finest actors, and the actor who plays the younger villain is also extraordinarily talented. The stalking and fight scenes are well executed and become vicious as they would between two serial killers. Writing, direction, and acting are all excellent, though there are definitely some plot holes, especially about the "daughter", and a rather strange open-ended bit at the end. Still, this is a fine movie: SK simply knows how to make them.