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IMDbPro

I Saw the Devil

Original title: Ang-ma-reul bo-at-da
  • 20102010
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 2h 24m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
135K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,440
48
Choi Min-sik and Lee Byung-hun in I Saw the Devil (2010)
When his pregnant wife becomes the latest victim of a serial killer, a secret agent blurs the line between good and evil in his pursuit of revenge.
Play trailer2:16
4 Videos
99+ Photos
ActionCrimeDrama
A secret agent exacts revenge on a serial killer through a series of captures and releases.A secret agent exacts revenge on a serial killer through a series of captures and releases.A secret agent exacts revenge on a serial killer through a series of captures and releases.
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
135K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,440
48
  • Director
    • Jee-woon Kim
  • Writers
    • Park Hoon-jung(screenplay)
    • Jee-woon Kim(adaptation)
  • Stars
    • Lee Byung-hun
    • Choi Min-sik
    • Jeon Gook-hwan
  • Director
    • Jee-woon Kim
  • Writers
    • Park Hoon-jung(screenplay)
    • Jee-woon Kim(adaptation)
  • Stars
    • Lee Byung-hun
    • Choi Min-sik
    • Jeon Gook-hwan
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 432User reviews
    • 289Critic reviews
    • 67Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 17 wins & 19 nominations

    Videos4

    I Saw the Devil: Greenband Trailer
    Trailer 2:16
    Watch I Saw the Devil: Greenband Trailer
    I Saw the Devil: Redband Trailer
    Trailer 2:15
    Watch I Saw the Devil: Redband Trailer
    I Saw the Devil 2010 Teaser
    Trailer 0:53
    Watch I Saw the Devil 2010 Teaser
    "Greenhouse Fight" from I Saw the Devil
    Clip 1:41
    Watch "Greenhouse Fight" from I Saw the Devil

    Photos145

    Jee-woon Kim in I Saw the Devil (2010)
    Choi Min-sik in I Saw the Devil (2010)
    Lee Byung-hun and In-seo Kim in I Saw the Devil (2010)
    Lee Byung-hun in I Saw the Devil (2010)
    Choi Min-sik in I Saw the Devil (2010)
    In-seo Kim in I Saw the Devil (2010)
    Choi Min-sik, Lee Byung-hun, and In-seo Kim in I Saw the Devil (2010)
    I Saw the Devil (2010)
    Choi Min-sik and Lee Byung-hun in I Saw the Devil (2010)
    San-ha Oh in I Saw the Devil (2010)
    Jeon Gook-hwan in I Saw the Devil (2010)
    Ho-jin Chun, Deok-jae Jo, Tae-goo Eom, and Myeong-Yeon Jo in I Saw the Devil (2010)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Lee Byung-hun
    Lee Byung-hun
    • Soo-hyeon…
    Choi Min-sik
    Choi Min-sik
    • Jang Kyung-chul
    Jeon Gook-hwan
    Jeon Gook-hwan
    • Squad Chief Jang
    Ho-jin Chun
    Ho-jin Chun
    • Section Chief Oh
    San-ha Oh
    • Joo-yeon
    Yoon-seo Kim
    • Se-yeon
    Moo-Seong Choi
    Moo-Seong Choi
    • Tae-joo
    In-seo Kim
    In-seo Kim
    • Se-jung
    Kim Kap-su
    Kim Kap-su
    • Planning team deputy head
    Lee Jun-hyuk
    Lee Jun-hyuk
    • Agent
    • (as Lee Joon-Hyeok)
    Deok-jae Jo
    • Detective Kang
    Cheol-woo Han
    • Detective Park
    Myeong-Yeon Jo
    • Detective Jo
    Tae-goo Eom
    • Detective Eom
    Se-joo Han
    • Woman on bus
    Choi Jin-ho
    Choi Jin-ho
    • Planning director
    Kang-il Kim
    • Park Han-gi
    Yoon Byung-hee
    Yoon Byung-hee
    • Jjang-goo…
    • Director
      • Jee-woon Kim
    • Writers
      • Park Hoon-jung(screenplay)
      • Jee-woon Kim(adaptation)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Korea Media Rating Board forced Jee-woon Kim to recut the film for its theatrical release, objecting to its violent content. Otherwise, the film would have gotten a "Restricted" rating, preventing any sort of release in theaters or on home video.
    • Goofs
      (at around 15 mins) An extra is seen peeking a glance at the camera next to him from under the brim of his ball-cap.
    • Quotes

      Kim Soo-hyeon: I will kill you when you are in the most pain. When you're in the most pain, shivering out of fear, then I will kill you. That's a real revenge. A real complete revenge.

    • Crazy credits
      The title card unfolds with a scene in the background.
    • Alternate versions
      The director Kim Jee-woon made seven cuts between 80 to 90 seconds in order to receive an '18' (youth not allowed) certificate by the Korean Media Board (film censorship board). The cuts were made to one scene of body parts being eaten by a dog and humans, and a human body being mutilated. Before the censorship decision, the Korean censors twice gave the film a 'Limited' certificate which means to prevent a video and mainstream theatrical release. After cuts, it was later re-rated '18'.
    • Connections
      Featured in Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #1.9 (2011)
    • Soundtracks
      Habanera
      (uncredited)

      From "Carmen" by Georges Bizet

    User reviews432

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Intensely Explicit & Extremely Shocking.
    I Saw The Devil is another extremely gory, brutally violent, and sexually explicit shock-horror feature from South Korea. While not as exhaustingly "realistic" as The Butcher (which I reviewed earlier), it's effectively just as disturbing (probably even moreso), with a twisted undertone of (very) dark humour.

    It tells the story of a misogynistic, sociopathic, serial bludgeoning rapist named Kyung-Chul (portrayed, hauntingly, by Min-Sik Choi of Oldboy fame). From the very first scene this monster violently attacks, kidnaps, rapes, tortures and dismembers a number of beautiful, young girls. But he doesn't limit himself to this preference, as he's clearly ready, willing and able to kill any and everyone he comes into contact with. The very thought alone, that such people exist in this world, is enough to make you sweat.

    The remains of the girl who dies in the opening scene are discovered by a young boy; dismembered, and dispersed across a barren field. She turns out to be the daughter of the local Police Chief; and girlfriend of a spook named Soo-Hyun.

    The killer's misogyny stems from a lifetime of rejection- which drives his violent rage. He's never been good enough for any woman, and now he's lashing out on the world without remorse.

    When Soo-Hyun becomes privy of his girlfriend's fate he quits his job; choosing instead to walk the path of hell and seek revenge for the death of his beloved (who also happened to be pregnant with their child).

    To achieve this, he utilizes his security connections to identify and track the 4 major suspects in the case. After violently vetting two of them...he manages to narrow the list down to one man: Kyung-Chul.

    After following a few of leads, he is eventually able to track Kyung-Chul down and confront him with a timely intervention. During the brawl that ensues, Soo-Hyun succeeds in knocking the sick bastard out. But instead of killing him...he plants some sort of tracking device inside him. This device not only tracks his position; it also provides an unfettered audio feed directly to a smartphone application.

    Soo-Hyun now has the ability to listen in on all of Kyung-Chul's conversations, while tracking his every move. And he plans to use this power to intervene in every situation where Kyung-Chul believes he has the upper hand on an unsuspecting victim. However, it is evident that Soo-Hyun is not intervening specifically to save these women; rather to punish Kyung-Chul, by preventing him from engaging in the one activity that will satiate his hunger.

    By the halfway point it becomes obvious that the hunter has become the hunted. Though...for some reason this new alpha predator prefers to play with his prey...rather than swiftly put it out of it's misery...

    An intense, action packed ride from the beginning to end. There is an extreme amount sexual exploitation and violence going on in this film, so if you can't handle watching people be violently molested and gorily tortured...then this certainly isn't the film for you. In the end, it's about having to become a monster in order to defeat a monster. In this way, it is thematically quite similar to HBO's True Detective. The subtle strand of dark humour threaded throughout is particularly intriguing- especially considering the disturbing nature of the content matter. However, it works (much in the same way that Kim Ki-Duk's bizarre, twisted and hilarious Moebius does). At about 2 hours and 20 minutes, it's a long film. But the awesome special effects and violent saturation make it hard to turn away. If you are looking to be simultaneously shocked, disturbed and entertained...then I suggest you check this one out.

    7 out of 10.
    helpful•6
    0
    • meddlecore
    • Oct 30, 2014

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 12, 2010 (South Korea)
    • Country of origin
      • South Korea
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • Korean
    • Also known as
      • Angmareul boatda
    • Filming locations
      • South Korea
    • Production companies
      • Softbank Ventures
      • Showbox/Mediaplex
      • Peppermint & Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $129,210
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $13,567
      • Mar 6, 2011
    • Gross worldwide
      • $12,966,357
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 24 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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