Review of Memories of Murder (2003) by Lanning : — 11 Aug 2006

Salinui chueok Mahalo, Sabina, another great recommendation. I'm often shy of watching films based on true stories, but I'm glad I saw this. Granted, the topic of serial killers can be gruesome.

Not so with this film. The actual murders are not over-dramatized, and the clear focus falls not so much on the deaths, but on the personalities of the investigative team figures. Song Kang-ho is definitely an actor I've come quickly to appreciate, as is Kim Roe-ha.

Song, I believe, would have a good chance acting on a more international scale. My guess is that he has done not a little theater acting in his time, and my bet would be that he has some Shakespearian training on his resume.

The great find here, however, is an actor I've not seen before: Kim Sang-hyung. As sabee points out, his portrayal of the transformation from the cool and rational "city" policeman, to a desperate, wild, and near-vigilante intensity in his rabid quest for justice is something to behold.

In the end, I think what I like best about this film is the fact that even if the serial murder theme is deadly serious, there is a constant sense of humor that bubbles up through the darkness. In fact I would not be surprised if Song and Kim proved to be excellent comic actors as well as very fine dramatic ones.

I must look to see if either has actually done comedy. By the way, just to add some balance to the synopsis offered on flixster, this movie does not remind me at all of Silence of the Lambs. Both in tone and focus, they really have nothing in common save for serial murders.