Review of Memories of Murder (2003) by Joe F — 03 Nov 2009
Joon-ho Bongs Memories of Murder rejuvenates the tired serial killer genre with this stunning sophomore effort. The film echoes the Western view of the genre in its portrayal of graphic violence, but finds a way to separate itself by way of comedic prevalence.
The thriller/comedy balancing act is seamless as it provides the viewer with scenes of deceptive comfort, only to pull the rug out in a timely fashion; this technique comes to full effectiveness during the second half of the film.
Unlike many of the thrillers that provide us with moments of comedic relief, MoM seems to reverse the formula, giving us moments of dramatic discomfort. This ingenious reversal makes the film not only a joy to watch, but also makes the suspenseful scenes, all the more, well.
..suspenseful. While not perfect, this is a worthy addition for any fan of the genre.
This review of Memories of Murder (2003) was written by Joe F on 03 Nov 2009.
Memories of Murder has generally received very positive reviews.
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