I Saw the Devil
Rent & Buy
Kyung-chul is a dangerous psychopath who kills for pleasure. Soo-hyeon, a top-secret agent, decides to track down the murderer himself. He promises himself that he will do everything in his power to take vengeance against the killer, even if it means that he must become a monster himself.
What critics thought
Kim Jee-woon's revenge thriller earns general approval for its craft and emotional weight, but critics split sharply over whether its extreme brutality is purposeful filmmaking or gratuitous excess — a tension the film never fully resolves. Most admirers argue that the genuine sadness running beneath the violence elevates it above genre exercise, while detractors felt the script squanders a director of real talent.
“Repugnant content, grislier than the ugliest torture porn, ought to have made the film unwatchable, but it doesn't, simply because Kim's picture is so beautifully filmed, carefully structured and viscerally engaging.”
Rob Nelson·Variety
“There is all the violent mayhem, for certain, but the thing that sets I Saw the Devil apart is its undercurrent of real emotion and how unrelentingly sad it can be.”
Mark Olson·Los Angeles Times
“Director Kim Jee-woon is a born filmmaker, even if this script (written by Park Hoon-jung and adapted by Kim) is unworthy of his efforts”
Mark Jenkins·The Washington Post
“On any number of levels, Devil is troublesome at best, offensive at worst.”
Elizabeth Kerr·The Hollywood Reporter
“From an unexpectedly moving first act to a hilariously disgusting sojourn with Kyung-chul's cannibal pal, Mr. Kim and his cinematographer, Lee Mo-gae, retain complete control of the film's fluctuating tones and impressive set pieces.”
Jeannette Catsoulis·The New York Times
Genres
Action, Thriller
Cast & Crew
Kim Jee-woonDirector
Lee Byung-hunKim Soo-hyeon
Choi Min-sikKyung-chul
Jeon Kuk-hwanSquad Chief Jang
Cheon Ho-jinSection Chief Oh
Oh San-haJoo-yeon
Kim Yoon-seoSe-yeon
Nam Bo-raSection Chief's Daughter
Lee Jun-hyeokNIS Agent
Yoon Chae-yeongNurse Han Song-i
Choi Mu-sungTae-joo
Kim In-seoSe-jung
Kim Kap-sooPlanning Team Deputy Head
MowgComposer
Park Hoon-jungWriterI Saw the Devil
Kyung-chul is a dangerous psychopath who kills for pleasure. Soo-hyeon, a top-secret agent, decides to track down the murderer himself. He promises himself that he will do everything in his power to take vengeance against the killer, even if it means that he must become a monster himself.
What critics thought
Kim Jee-woon's revenge thriller earns general approval for its craft and emotional weight, but critics split sharply over whether its extreme brutality is purposeful filmmaking or gratuitous excess — a tension the film never fully resolves. Most admirers argue that the genuine sadness running beneath the violence elevates it above genre exercise, while detractors felt the script squanders a director of real talent.
“Repugnant content, grislier than the ugliest torture porn, ought to have made the film unwatchable, but it doesn't, simply because Kim's picture is so beautifully filmed, carefully structured and viscerally engaging.”
Rob Nelson·Variety
“There is all the violent mayhem, for certain, but the thing that sets I Saw the Devil apart is its undercurrent of real emotion and how unrelentingly sad it can be.”
Mark Olson·Los Angeles Times
“Director Kim Jee-woon is a born filmmaker, even if this script (written by Park Hoon-jung and adapted by Kim) is unworthy of his efforts”
Mark Jenkins·The Washington Post
“On any number of levels, Devil is troublesome at best, offensive at worst.”
Elizabeth Kerr·The Hollywood Reporter
“From an unexpectedly moving first act to a hilariously disgusting sojourn with Kyung-chul's cannibal pal, Mr. Kim and his cinematographer, Lee Mo-gae, retain complete control of the film's fluctuating tones and impressive set pieces.”
Jeannette Catsoulis·The New York Times
Genres
Action, Thriller
Cast & Crew
Kim Jee-woonDirectorLee Byung-hunKim Soo-hyeonChoi Min-sikKyung-chulJeon Kuk-hwanSquad Chief JangCheon Ho-jinSection Chief OhOh San-haJoo-yeonKim Yoon-seoSe-yeonNam Bo-raSection Chief's DaughterLee Jun-hyeokNIS AgentYoon Chae-yeongNurse Han Song-iChoi Mu-sungTae-jooKim In-seoSe-jungKim Kap-sooPlanning Team Deputy HeadMowgComposerPark Hoon-jungWriterRent & Buy