redrummy

The film revolves around Jisuk and her mother's relationship spanning Jisook's childhood and adulthood, while i'm not a fan of some of the episodic structure, you can easily fill in the blanks. There are some really great and emotional scenes in the film and one of my main gripes is that much of the film is that the brunt of the film is essentially a collection of these great moments. You can often see where the film is going and won't be too surprised near the end but a incredible performance from Hae-sook Kim is almost disappointing as the rest of the cast remain underused while solid in their performance's. However, your enjoyment of the film will differ depending on your own relationship with your mother and i benefit from having one not a million miles away from Jisooks. I've been in one or two of those situations brought on by embarrassing parents and this film really speaks to me. For what it is, I really can't see many places where the film could've been improved and while flawed, it's positives far outweigh it's negatives. One or two scenes are overplayed but great use of close ups and a great script make the film one of the standout films of the year though i doubt it would get the recognition it deserves.

The revenge genre is very overplayed in korean cinema and takes something of a different quality to stand out like the Chaser does. While it is somewhat predictable to begin with, the film begins to twist into something much more than expected. The plot revolves around a ex cop turned pimp who after losing out numerous girls to other pimps stumbles upon a serial killer. However revealing any more of the plot would only ruin it. Like many korean films the incompetencies and legal issues are highlighted though a bit too much in this film, coupled with political undertones. The cast is fantastic in delivering a excellent performance all round but it really has to be the director who can take a lot of positives in filming a stylish yet amazing story.

Having seen a lot of good films this year, I picked this up after watching Thirst and wanting to see more of Song Kang Ho, remembering him being great in the Host. However, I was blown away by the fact that I never found this film earlier and while Song is excellent in it, the film and nearly everything about it is flawless in execution. The story about a detective in a small countryside town who finds a serial killer yet it's the incompetencies of the police force in general and human error which leads more and more murders. As the murders continue they find themselves powerless to use whatever clues they have to find the murderer. I'll leave it at that in terms of plot as it the film beautifully pulls you in until it's frustratingly simple conclusion. The cinematography is outstanding with a haunting score worthy of the film's amazing direction. I simply cannot find the words to describe how great this film is. I rarely watch films twice and never watched a film again without getting bored. On repeated viewings, you begin to appreciate the little scenes the director has put in and i didn't pick up one of the running gags until the third time though, they add little to the plot but are enjoyable and fascinating as the director chooses to move at his own pace. While not perfect, the quality of the film brings the smallest niggles to light and while there are only a few, this film does not get the recognition it deserves in the west, yet at the same time, it's like a little secret that is appreciated by those who are lucky enough to find it. As with any murder and mystery, you'll be looking for clues, even on multiple viewings but at best you'll be grasping at straws and jumping to conclusions until the frustratingly simple ending