Review of Memories of Murder (2003) by Dustin G — 18 Feb 2011

Another solid serial killer export from Korea, probably the leading country in the making of high quality films in the genre. This one's directed by Joon-ho Bong, one of the country's more well known director's after hits like The Host and Mother. This movie falls somewhere in between the two in terms of how good it is. Better than The Host, not as good as Mother.

The story's not overly unique or original. A play by his own rules cop investigates a series of murders in ways that are frowned upon by his boss and things get more desperate as more bodies start piling up. It's well made and told, with good acting and a great end.

I saw this and the movie The Chaser, also from Korea and with a similar storyline, pretty much back to back so I'm having a little trouble distinguishing aspects of both stories from one another, but both were great and both good examples of Korea's high level of filmmaking, especially in this genre.