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The Chaser

Original title: Chugyeokja
  • 2008
  • Not Rated
  • 2h 5m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
77K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,116
899
Ha Jung-woo and Kim Yoon-seok in The Chaser (2008)
Joong-ho is a dirty detective turned pimp in financial trouble as several of his girls have recently disappeared without clearing their debts. While trying to track them down, he finds a clue that the vanished girls were all called up by a same client whom one of his girls is meeting with right now.
Play trailer1:18
3 Videos
28 Photos
True CrimeActionCrimeDramaThriller

A disgraced ex-policeman who runs a small ring of prostitutes finds himself in a race against time when one of his women goes missing.A disgraced ex-policeman who runs a small ring of prostitutes finds himself in a race against time when one of his women goes missing.A disgraced ex-policeman who runs a small ring of prostitutes finds himself in a race against time when one of his women goes missing.

  • Director
    • Na Hong-jin
  • Writers
    • Na Hong-jin
    • Shinho Lee
    • Hong Won-chan
  • Stars
    • Kim Yoon-seok
    • Ha Jung-woo
    • Seo Young-hee
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.8/10
    77K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,116
    899
    • Director
      • Na Hong-jin
    • Writers
      • Na Hong-jin
      • Shinho Lee
      • Hong Won-chan
    • Stars
      • Kim Yoon-seok
      • Ha Jung-woo
      • Seo Young-hee
    • 205User reviews
    • 136Critic reviews
    • 64Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 29 wins & 25 nominations total

    Videos3

    The Chaser
    Trailer 1:18
    The Chaser
    The Chaser - Teaser
    Trailer 1:11
    The Chaser - Teaser
    The Chaser - Teaser
    Trailer 1:11
    The Chaser - Teaser
    'Dangerous Lies' Star Jamie Chung Wants to Play This Tarantino Character
    Video 3:02
    'Dangerous Lies' Star Jamie Chung Wants to Play This Tarantino Character

    Photos28

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    + 22
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    Top cast62

    Edit
    Kim Yoon-seok
    Kim Yoon-seok
    • Eom Joong-ho
    Ha Jung-woo
    Ha Jung-woo
    • Jee Young-min
    Seo Young-hee
    Seo Young-hee
    • Kim Mi-jin
    Kim Yoo-jung
    Kim Yoo-jung
    • Eun-ji
    Jeong In-gi
    Jeong In-gi
    • Detective Lee
    Choi Jung-woo
    Choi Jung-woo
    • Chief of Police
    Min Kyung-jin
    Min Kyung-jin
    • Team Chief
    Park Hyo-ju
    • Detective Oh
    Bon-woong Ko
    • Oh-jot
    Oh Yeon-ah
    • Sung-hee
    Yoo Ji-yeon
    • Hee-jung
    Lee Jong-goo
    Lee Jong-goo
    • Profiler
    Song Yo-sep
    • Detective Kang
    Ha Seong-kwang
    • Detective Park
    Jo Deok-jae
    • Detective Choi
    Lim Jeong-woon
    • Detective Kim
    Jung Gi-sub
    Jung Gi-sub
    • Prosecutor
    Chan-guk Park
    • Connoisseur
    • Director
      • Na Hong-jin
    • Writers
      • Na Hong-jin
      • Shinho Lee
      • Hong Won-chan
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews205

    7.876.6K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    9akkoziol

    Nice psycho-thriller! Slow burner but great climax!

    Wow! I caught wind of this through a magazine review and checked it out and was very glad I did. Some of the great stuff coming out of South Korea will blow your mind and this is no exception. The references people made to this movie being in the caliber of Oldboy and Memories of Murder are well substantiated but I would liken it more to Memories of Murder and not quite in the same league as Oldboy. The only movie in league with Oldboy is Seven. While the plot kind of reminded me of some of the classic 80s and 90s psycho-killer thrillers we have had come out of the US, it does hold up well on its own for being a foreign film. Not the most original plot but a decent twist on it nonetheless. Nothing in the plot or sequence of events stood out as unbelievable and there are some real gripping scenes that'll make you white-knuckle. There are some good character developments and reversals that I enjoyed as we see our main character, a former cop turned pimp, trying to find the guy who's been killing his girls and coming to grips with his personal responsibilities and justice. I don't want to give away the plot other than that as it would detract from your enjoyment. It does burn a little slow after the first 20 minutes of the movie as we see events unfold so be prepared for the reward in the last 30 minutes of the movie as the sequence of events crescendo. I'll be keeping an eye on this great director.
    9jj_okocha_87

    An Audience View - A great thriller from the Korea film industry

    This is most probably the best Asian movies that i have ever seen. I did not expect much when i went to watch the movie but boy was i wrong. I was fully satisfied with this film because it had everything. The movie had suspense, action and abit of humour put into it The hero in this movie did not look like the hero that everyone is used to, he is rude,total disregard of other people's feeling and most of all he is selfish and only thinks about money and himself.But as we go along through this movie, we discover that he does have a conscience and goes out one of the girls he sent to the maniacal and psychotic killer in the movie.

    The cast in the movie gave a solid and believable performance especially ha jung woo as the villain in this movie.He showed no remorse or feel any guilt in killing those people.Overall this movie is great and if you like to watch any Asian movie, than this should be the one for you
    10kosmasp

    Listen to Mister Buggz

    That's another user or commentator, here on IMDb. And his last sentence is "Go and watch the movie". I fully stand behind this, because this was one of the best movies I've watched this year (at the Fright Fest in London).

    There's only a little thing that you should bare in mind: If you actually don't like Korean (or Asian movies for that matter), than this won't be for you. Especially if you like your movies to be according to a somewhat linear structure. While with other movies of this nature, you might foresee things happening, I was baffled (in a good way) with the directions this movie took. Very brave choices and a great script. The actors of course are phenomenal too. It all fits together in one whole perfect piece. If you like your thrillers to be ... well thrilling, than this is the one to watch!
    10tskeffer

    Stunning, gripping, amazing. Wow, what a movie.

    After the two very positive comments I decided to watch this movies. At this point the movie has 59 votes. So I didn't expect much from the movie. I was asking myself the question: "How can a movie from South Korea with only 59 votes deserve a 8,9? " But after watching the movie I can say this is one of the very best movies EVER made. I have been watching movies for quite some time now. And I have seen almost all movies from the IMDb top 250. But this movie deserves to be in the top 20. No question about it, no exaggeration. Just look at my vote statistics and you will see that only gave a few movies a ten.

    So what's the story of the movie? A former detective who is now a pimp, thinks 2 of his girls ran away from him. So he tries to find those girls. After some research he learns the truth is a little bit different. From that point on, the movie never loses your grip. Never get's dull. Always keeps you right on the edge of your chair. For the rest, you really gotta see it. I won't spoil any of your viewing pleasure by telling you too much about the story.

    The other comment said something about a horror element, and a bit gore. But in my opinion there is no horror. Sure there is some blood, but it doesn't play a big part.

    So, why are you still reading my comment. Go and see where you can watch this movie!!
    10Ata-2

    One of the best thrillers I have ever seen

    If the remake of Infernal Affairs (The Departed) won all those Oscars then a re-make of this movie will surely clean up. Its one of those movies that just doesn't let up. At any given time there are at least three threads to the story, each of which keeps you on the edge of your seat. I actually had to stop it at one point so I could calm down a bit.

    The acting by everyone involved is very believable and that makes it quite harrowing at points. I don't want to give away a single thing about the story but what I can say is that its an absolutely brilliant twist on a story that has been done many times before.

    If you are going to see just one foreign film this year then let it be this one.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      (at around 32 mins) The part where Young-min (Ha Jung-woo) slips as Joong-ho (Kim Yoon-seok) chases him in the alley was not scripted. Actor Jung-woo Ha actually did slip on the slippery pavement while shooting, but kept running anyway. Director Na Hong-jin liked that cut so much that he kept it in the final edit.
    • Connections
      Featured in Visionado obligado: The Chaser (2011)

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    FAQ19

    • How long is The Chaser?Powered by Alexa
    • Has this film had a 'Hollywood Remake'?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 14, 2008 (South Korea)
    • Country of origin
      • South Korea
    • Official site
      • Official site (South Korea)
    • Language
      • Korean
    • Also known as
      • Kẻ Săn Đuổi
    • Filming locations
      • Seoul, South Korea
    • Production companies
      • Showbox Entertainment
      • Bidangil Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,650,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $36,496,231
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 5 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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