BEDEVILLED

(A.k.a. KIM-BOK-NAM SAL-IN-SA-EUI JEON-MAL; ENDEMONIADA)

In scenes reminiscent of DRAG ME TO HELL, we meet Hae-won (Seong-won Ji) - a ruthless bank clerk who has no qualms about refusing home-saving loans to little old women. In-between work in Seoul's busy city centre, she spends an inordinate amount of time brushing off telephone calls and letters from Bok-nam (Yeong-hie Seo).

Perhaps the reason for Hae-won's outwardly cold persona is the shock of having recently witnessed a violent crime, and being called to the local police station to survey an ID parade. Shaken by the incident, she eventually decides to take a break from her work and finally agrees to visit Bok-nam.

Bok-nam, it transpires, lives on the beautiful neighbouring island of Moo-do. Hae-won once visited her grandparents there and struck up a friendship with the native girl, albeit many moons ago. Ever since, Bok-nam has been plaguing the city girl with calls, begging her to make a return visit to the island.

Arriving on the island via small boat, Hae-won soon realises that the community is a largely self-sufficient one who want little to do with the outside world. After an excitable Bok-nam, the first person to greet her is a wizened old potato-picking hag who assures the visitor that "this ain't no tourist attraction". Suddenly, we have echoes of the inbred commune that is stumbled upon in Shohei Imamura's seminal PROFOUND DESIRES OF THE GODS.

Bok-nam invites her friend to stay at her house, where she meets the nervous young woman's abusive husband and cute young daughter. Bok-nam says she longs for her daughter to go to school - but females are not allowed to, as the men of the island fear that an educated girl would try to escape from their existence there.

Cue some uncomfortable scenes of misogynistic violence as BEDEVILLED paints a picture of a consciously isolated world where men dominate women, and anyone who dares to have a mind of her own pays a dear price.

It's difficult to say which stirs up more revulsion in the viewer: the sadistic male islanders, or the elderly women who not only bear witness to the barbarity, but actively entice it. Just as heartbreaking is Bok-nam's wide-eyed optimism, genuinely elated to have her old friend back with her ... and eternally hopeful that the stories she hears of a better life in the city, may someday ring true for her and her daughter.

But, inevitably, tragedy waits not too far away. And, following its gruelling emotional aftermath, the scene is set for a finale of revenge that brings to mind Lars von Trier's DOGVILLE - only this is much, much more grisly ...

At 111 minutes in length, it must be conceded that Chul-soo Yang's directorial debut BEDEVILLED is somewhat drawn out. The way its simple story spins out economically and without haste, building ever-so slowly and with sparse use of music before exploding when all but the most patient have given up on anything happening, recalls the cinema of Ki-duk Kim.

The film is also rich with metaphor and allusions to recent Korean history, as are Kim's films. And - again, as with the auteur behind the likes of BAD GUY and THE ISLE - Yang's film offers scene after scene of simply wonderful, considered and immaculately prepared cinematography. These factors alone make it totally unsurprising that Yang was groomed as assistant director to Kim on the latter's 2004 effort, SAMARITAN GIRL.

Of course, Kim is no stranger to his films being accused of dressing up sexual exploitation as art. On the surface, it would be easy to say the same of Yang here. But the story has so much heart, not only provided by Bok-nam's yearning but also Hae-won's convincing transition from ice queen to decent human being (even when doing the indecent), that it seems naive to dismiss BEDEVILLED as woman-hating crap.

It's certainly an angry piece of cinema though, which makes the controlled pace and aesthetically charming compositions all the more impressive. Yang shows a restraint that only occasionally revels in excess, for the most part suggesting fury while relishing in paradoxically sumptuous designs. It's a jarring effect, and one that resonates long after the end titles roll.

All told, BEDEVILLED is a straightforward story told in an unrushed, unfussy manner - and with style to spare. The slow build-up makes the gory climax all the more horrific, and the performances ensure you feel that emotional kick when it's needed.

It ranks among the best Korean horror films of the 21st Century.

Optimum's disc presents BEDEVILLED uncut and in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1. The transfer is 16x9 enhanced and looks beautiful. Colours are rich without ever being overpowering, expertly accentuating the gorgeous Geumodo Island setting. Blacks are deep, flesh-tones are accurate and detail is frequently flabbergasting. With a DVD presentation this clean and clear, I can only imagine how stunning the BD variant must look.

Korean audio comes in 2.0 and 5.1 surround mixes. Both are good and natural-sounding, although the latter clearly has the advantage, come the jolting sound design employed to startling effect during the final act.

English subtitles are well-written and easy to read.

The disc opens with a rather stylish animated main menu page. From there, a static scene-selection menu allows access to the main feature via 12 chapters.

Extras are disappointingly limited for a film that is rich with symbolism and ripe for further examination.

They begin with a 13-minute Making Of documentary which, while entertaining enough (and subtitled in English, which is handy), offers little more than outtakes and on-set footage.

A theatrical trailer is presented in non-anamorphic 2.35:1 and does a fair job of emulating the film's journey from gentle start to dark descent. At 2 minutes in length, it does a better job of representing the film than a subsequent 32-second TV spot can.

BEDEVILLED is a beautiful, initially laconic but ultimately haunting film that restores one's faith in Korean horror pictures. Although it deserves a better showcase in terms of extra features, there is no denying that the film itself is presented extremely well on Optimum Home Entertainment's DVD.

Also available on blu-ray.

Review by Stuart Willis