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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
127K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,604
92
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
  • Action
  • Crime
  • Drama
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
127K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,604
92
  • Director
    • Jee-woon Kim
  • Writers
    • Park Hoon-jung(screenplay)
    • Jee-woon Kim(adaptation)
  • Stars
    • Lee Byung-hun
    • Choi Min-sik
    • Jeon Gook-hwan
Top credits
  • 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
    • 407User reviews
    • 282Critic reviews
    • 67Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 17 wins & 19 nominations

    Videos4

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

    Photos102

    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)
    Hye-rin Lee in I Saw the Devil (2010)
    I Saw the Devil (2010)
    Choi Min-sik and Hye-rin Lee in I Saw the Devil (2010)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Lee Byung-hun
    Lee Byung-hun
    • Kim Soo-hyeonas Kim Soo-hyeon
    Choi Min-sik
    Choi Min-sik
    • Jang Kyung-chulas Jang Kyung-chul
    Jeon Gook-hwan
    Jeon Gook-hwan
    • Squad Chief Jangas Squad Chief Jang
    Ho-jin Chun
    Ho-jin Chun
    • Section Chief Ohas Section Chief Oh
    San-ha Oh
    • Joo-yeonas Joo-yeon
    Yoon-seo Kim
    • Se-yeonas Se-yeon
    Moo-Seong Choi
    Moo-Seong Choi
    • Tae-jooas Tae-joo
    In-seo Kim
    In-seo Kim
    • Se-jungas Se-jung
    Kim Kap-su
    Kim Kap-su
    • Planning team deputy headas Planning team deputy head
    Lee Joon-hyuk
    Lee Joon-hyuk
    • Agentas Agent
    • (as Lee Joon-Hyeok)
    Deok-jae Jo
    • Detective Kangas Detective Kang
    Cheol-woo Han
    • Detective Parkas Detective Park
    Myeong-Yeon Jo
    • Detective Joas Detective Jo
    Tae-goo Eom
    • Detective Eomas Detective Eom
    Se-joo Han
    • Woman on busas Woman on bus
    Choi Jin-ho
    Choi Jin-ho
    • Planning directoras Planning director
    Kang-il Kim
    • Park Han-gias Park Han-gi
    Yoon Byung-hee
    Yoon Byung-hee
    • Jjang-gooas Jjang-goo…
    • Director
      • Jee-woon Kim
    • Writers
      • Park Hoon-jung(screenplay)
      • Jee-woon Kim(adaptation)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Korea Media Rating Board forced 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 00:15:45 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 reviews407

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    A perfect tale of revenge
    This movie is probably the heaviest one I have ever seen in terms of mental and physical brutality even though I know movies that touch me even more. Anybody that has problems with torture scenes, cannibalism, violations and explicit sexual content as well as repetitive harsh language should stop reading here and lock for something else. Anybody else is invited to watch a movie about a monster you have never seen before.

    The movie turns around the question if one can and if so, how one could fight a monster. If two monsters fight each other can there be a winner and what are the consequences for other involved people. The movie hides in fact a lot of philosophical content and depth beneath the surface of blood and gore and is less superficial than it might seem at first sight.

    The movie is comparable to the story of the great Korean vengeance trilogy around "Sympathy for Mister Vengeance", "Oldboy" and "Lady Vengeance". It has the same harsh language and great acting as the Korean crime masterpiece "Memories of murder". It has the same philosophical content as the Canadian "Les sept jours du talion". Those movies can be references but this flick isn't comparable to any Hollywood production. This movie is also much heavier than any of the mentioned movies and something like that could only be a success in a country like Korea because it would be cut or banned in Europe or North America. Be sure to catch the uncut version no matter how high the price because it's really worth it.

    This movie doesn't only live from its shocking and gripping story and the numerous brutal scenes but also from the amazing acting. Choi Min-sik is one of Korea's greatest actors as he proved in "Oldboy" or "Lady Vengenace" but this time he is even more perfect than I expected. He plays his role with so much credibility and precision and is easily the best interpretation of a serial killer I have ever seen in a movie. Lee Byung-hun plays in a credible way a man that must become a monster to realize his promise and his revenge and he perfectly plays a broken person that goes through extreme changes. The other actors also deliver a more than solid job and remain credible. I must underline the acting of the weird cannibal friend of the monster and his strange wife (you should absolutely check out the deleted scenes).

    The director also did a great and very detailed job. The acting is perfect, the settings work very well and a great atmosphere is created. Kim Jee-won already created the dark, calm and mind-blowing masterpiece "A tale of two sisters" and he shows in here that he can also create a heavy, pitiless and extreme movie like this. I happen to estimate him higher and higher and want to check out the rest of his movies.

    In the end, this movie isn't maybe as gripping and stunningly original as my favourite Korean flicks "Oldboy", "A tale of two sisters" or "Memories of murder" but it surely is a movie you should check out if you like modern Asian cinema and if you liked the movies I've listed up in this review. It's a little masterpiece you won't forget after you have seen it and it's probably the best movie of the year to me. I would say that this movie underlines my opinion that the Korean cinema has become the best in the world during the last years.
    helpful•76
    25
    • kluseba
    • Jun 13, 2011

    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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