Mon-seu-teo

MONSTER is another entry in the popular South Korean genre of serial killer movies. They always make these really nicely, with a maximum of suspense, and MONSTER is no exception. The only negative is that the first half an hour is so complicated and jumpy that I didn't have a clue what was going on, but as is so often the case with Korean cinema, it all works out and becomes quite simplified as it goes on. The story involves a young woman and the child in her care being menaced by a psychopath so unstoppable that he gives the Terminator a run for his money. There's murder, mayhem, fighting and some heavy scenes of melodrama that the Koreans are known for, but it all hangs together nicely.

Korean thrillers are usually pretty decent, but this movie is one of the most misguided and misdirected thriller ever. There is literally ZERO direction in the themes, the story, the acting, and the overall feel of this movie.

This movie is a bunch of random stuff put together, and it is pretty damn bad. It starts of dark and bleak, then suddenly turns into some weird comedy, then dark and bleak again, then back to a comedy but this time it is all slapstick, and it just goes back and forth. Also towards the end it becomes a buddy comedy coming of age movie for about 5 minutes. This is one of the worst movies I have ever seen. Also the two main girls are good but all they ever freaking do is cry CRY cry. What is wrong with this movie?!?!?!

There is no real plot to this movie, it makes no F(_)cking sense. The story literally makes no freaking sense. It is about many things, but the main plot is about this guy who hired his serial killer brother to go find a cell phone for him. It is later revealed that they are not real brothers but they are afraid of him but keep calling him to come over too. It makes no sense.

Second plot is about this girl who has a mental illness (done very poorly in this movie and also kinda offensive). She is trying to find the serial killer because he killed her sister, but along the way she meets a young girl whose sister got killed by him too. The little girl happens to know where the cell phone is at. Along the way they go on a wacky adventure, a lot of annoying crying scenes, some very very weird and out of place comedy, a lot of annoying screaming, and the ending is just bad.

Also the serial killer has no real back story, and there is no explanation as to why he is a skinny dude but somehow is also part Terminator, being able to take multiple heavy blows to the back of the head that will kill even the strongest man, or being able to survive getting stabbed in the kidneys. Also he is able to easily destroy 5+ Korean soldiers in a fight which makes no sense.

The first act is not bad, but from the half way point it is pretty much unwatchable. This is one of the worst Korean movies I have ever seen, and also one of the most annoying movies too.

2/10 (only good thing is that the actresses are kinda cute)

This Korean drama has three main characters; Bok-soon, who may be a little slow but is happy enough running her vegetable stall at the local market hoping to fund her younger sister's university tuition. She is however prone to violence if confronted. Tae-soo, a potter who lives in a remote house; he is also a serial killer. Finally there is Nari, a nine year old girl. Their lives will become tragically entangled after Tae-soo's brother asks him to retrieve a phone from a woman who is blackmailing his boss. That woman is Nari's older sister. Tae-soo kills her and tells Nari to run; he will come after her and kill her and anybody she asks for help. She meets Bok-soon and this leads to her sister's death. Together Nara and Bok-soon flee. Bok-soon is determined to save Nari as well as avenge her sister. Tae-soo is now after both of them.

I found this film to be very enjoyable and not what I expected. There is plenty of drama and the violence, of which there is quite a lot, is bloody and brutal; that was expected. What was not expected was the fact that it frequently manages to be rather funny and there is a touching relationship that develops between Bok-soon and Nari. The cast is solid; especially those playing the three leads. Locations are used well and the cinematography is great; at times things had an almost dreamlike feel to them, most notably a foggy scene in a forest. Overall I'd definitely recommend this to fans of Korean films who are looking for something a little different.

These comments are based on watching the film in Korean with English subtitles.

Title: Monster (2014) Country: South Korea

Plot: Monster follows the intertwined lives of two pairs of siblings - two sisters who share a strong bond, with the elder being mentally unstable and the younger excelling academically; and two brothers, distant from each other, with the elder manifesting psychopathic tendencies, as he burns people alive and collects their ashes in pottery under the guise of an artisanal business. The narrative gains momentum when the older brother finds himself ensnared in a dangerous predicament, and his elder brother comes to his aid, setting off a chain of unforeseen events.

Review: Monster's initial pacing may feel unhurried, as it takes its time to establish the characters and their relationships. However, the film builds momentum as the antagonist enters the fray. The simplicity of the overall plot is balanced by an engaging music score that breathes life into the suspenseful chase sequences.

While the climax may leave something to be desired, seemingly rushed in an attempt to reach a resolution, the movie still provides a worthwhile cinematic experience. The occasional lulls in the narrative do not detract significantly from the overall impact of the film. Monster's exploration of the complexities of family dynamics and the chilling portrayal of a disturbed mind make it a solid, if not exceptional, addition to South Korean cinema.

This instantly became one of my favorite films, even when I watched it without subtitles and couldn't understand a lick of Korean. I adore that the hero is a grown woman with a developmental disability and her relationship with the child has so much chemistry. The way in which the villain disposes of his victim's bodies and collection of mementos of his murders was my absolute favorite detail. It's the iconic theme that I always think of to identify this film. The cinematography is excellent as well as the acting. The script combines humor and horror in a fluid way that does not break immersion. The only thing that would make this film better in my opinion is to stray away from the campy blood splatter effects, but thankfully they are hardly used. What more, the minimal amount of blood used up until the climax made it all the more impactful. I definitely recommend.