Review of I Saw the Devil (2010) by Jorge G — 05 Apr 2018

I Saw the Devil is a brutal, horrifying, and intense horror film combined with a revenge thriller. It is not a film for the faint of heart and I consider it to be one of the most violent and disturbing films I've ever seen.

The plot involves a man seeking revenge against the serial killer who brutally murdered his pregnant fiance, eventually catching the murderer and playing a twisted game of cat and mouse - he tortures him and then releases him, finds him again and tortures him some more (Like a scene where he slices his Achilles heel with a scalpel).

But the killer is rather cunning, too, and soon catches on to how he's being pursued. It's an interesting film that brings new light on the true nature of revenge. Whereas with other films, revenge is celebrated and we as the viewer cheer as the bad guy gets their comeuppance (The more violent the better), I Saw the Devil portrays the true nature of revenge as ugly, brutal, and frankly accomplishes nothing.

This isn't a matter of the line between good and evil blurring - the line disappears altogether as the seeker of vengeance becomes the very monster he sought to destroy (Brought home by the cruel, harshly truthful ending).

I Saw the Devil is no genre masterpiece - it is a masterpiece of film-making as a whole and one of the best films of the 2010's. If you've got the stomach and a fondness for brainier horror flicks, this should be right up your alley.