Review of I Saw the Devil (2010) by Jesse M — 08 Sep 2014

In a word, disturbing. Not just because of the graphic violence displayed (of which there is plenty) but because of what it reveals inside of you: there is at least some part of you that feels for the main character and may even find such sadism somewhat justifiable. Byung-Hun Lee plays it so cold, quiet, and calculating, but also gives an almost visible sense of inner torment.

The film is almost unclassifiable in terms of genre. Part horror, thriller, action, and revenge flick all could be used describe the film, and yet doesn't fully resemble any movies in those categories. The story also takes you for completely unexpected turns. How many movies does the main character physically defeat the villain at the 45 minute marker?

I once described the level of violence by saying "it's like one of the later Saw films but the violence actually has purpose." Even if you find the violence disturbing (and you probably should), you can't say it's not effective. And it's not the only effective thing. Kim Jee-woon has crafted a very effective film.