I SAW THE DEVIL

Fans of the classic Korean movie OLDBOY may well have been wondering where Min Sik-Choi has been of late. The actor took a break from acting in protest at the South Korean government’s decision to reduce its 40-year-old screen quota, from 146 days to 73 days back in 2006. During his demonstration, Choi openly voiced his disgust with the pressure that major US studios were putting on the Asian and European film industries, in trying to obtain rights to ‘remake’ movies for the American market.

Choi’s 4 year hiatus finally came to an end when he agreed to be reunited with director Kim Ji-woon. The pair worked together previously in Kim’s directorial debut, The Quiet Family. As you can imagine, it would have to take something special for an actor with such honourable principles to agree to get in front of the camera again. To call I SAW THE DEVIL ‘something special’, however, is somewhat of an understatement...

The story begins when Ju-Yeon (Oh San-ha), the daughter of an ex-police chief and also fiancé to NIS agent, Soo Hyun (Lee Byung-hun) , is brutally kidnapped and slain. Her pleas for her killer, Kyung Chul (Choi), to spare her life due to her being pregnant are callously ignored before she is disposed of in a business like manner. After her body is found in the resulting chaotic police search, her identity is hideously revealed, confirming her father and fiancés worst fears. The movie morbidly lingers on the emotional loss before focusing on Hyun. The guilt he feels on believing he should have been with Ju-Yeon on her birthday (the night of her murder) festers before succumbing to vitriolic hate fuelled anger.

Hyun ignores the offer of 2 months off work, assuring his boss 2 weeks is all he will need. Whilst on compassionate leave, Hyun illicitly acquires a pill sized GPS tracking device, through a loyal, but weary colleague. This, along with info on 4 possible suspects the police have linked to the murder, becomes his personal vigilante type project.

He works his way through the suspects in a creatively violent fashion before finding the clue he has been looking for. When at Kyung’s abode he finds the blood stained engagement ring that he gave to his fiancé.

Satisfied he now has his killer, he corners him. After a violent exchange, the cop has a rock hoisted above the killers head. Simply let it drop and Ju-Yeons death has been avenged. But he doesn’t. Instead, he forces the tracking pill down Kyung’s throat and leaves him with a wad of cash in an envelope.

Here begins Hyun’s twisted game of cat and mouse. But how simple it would be if all cats were to simply catch and then kill their prey? Some cats are the menacing type whereby a quick death is far too kind. Tormenting their hapless victims with the illusion of freedom, their claws hover in the shadows, poised to administer another dose of torture at will.

When consumed with this much hatred, such a depraved game of harassment could make you face yourself in a very dark light. It is a massive clue as to what the film’s title is pertaining to...

From the POV opening frames before Ju-Yeons death, the audience is enticed subconsciously into the characters shoes. The following brutal aesthetics then grip the viewer from the first murderous set piece onwards. Blood on freshly fallen snow has always been a personal favourite of mine, and this disparity was employed delightfully in the aftermath of the first explosion of violence on the screen.

Massive congratulations have to go to director Kim Ji-woon for taking the classic revenge scenario and twisting it in such a classy and emotional manner. The savagery of the movie is extreme, but it honestly feeds its narrative. With a lot of revenge type movies, the emotional elements tend to become irrelevant toward the climax of the picture in favour of all out carnage. Not so with ISTD. It distinctly engrosses the viewer with every painful feeling Hyun and Kyung experience. Not only does the extreme violence stay fresh to the movies conclusion, but the emotional aspect of both the characters is strikingly clear to the very last frame.

The acting is of such strong calibre, it’s quite possible that, even without the English subtitles, the viewer would quite probably understand what the characters were enduring. The distinct opposites of Hyun’s cool and calm exterior pitted against the volcanic sadism of Kyung is a fascinating contrast. But it is how these characters react and evolve with every painful twist that energises the film.

ISTD is a rare visceral treat that entwines heart wrenching drama with some of the most vicious, yet creative, violence you are likely to witness on DVD this year.

A movie of this stature left me gasping for more and the ‘extras’ element of the DVD went some way to providing this. A wonderful interview with director Kim gives a unique insight to his interpretation of the movie. It also contains interviews with the two central characters of which who’s commitment to their art is admirably portrayed.

But what I found really intriguing was the "Making of.." chapter filmed on set. From improvisation of new storyboards being sketched to the innocent looking Oh San-ha choreographing her own death in meticulous detail, it really was a fascinating look at the film making process

Some seemingly tangible scenes being rehearsed portrayed Kim’s emphasis and commitment to developing the characters traits. The mutual respect that the actors and director displayed for each other went a long way to explaining why Choi would decide to resume his acting career. There were even some humorous exchanges between fans visiting the set and the actors that added a little comic relief to the whole package.

Unlike the films title I have not seen the Devil... but I have seen one of the best movies to come out of Asia in a very long time. Miss at your peril!!

Review by Marc Lissenburg