Based on a true story, with the ultimate goal of highlighting the flaws of the South Korean Police Force and the story of one of South Korea's most brutal serial killers
The basic premise of the story; a few prostitutes go missing, their pimp-a former detective-goes out in search of the girls, and it becomes a race against time to get the killer behind bars.
30mins of the movie in, I was mesmerised. The mood had been set and the story was ready to unfold, but it just didn't, and started to become farcical.
This was supposed to be a dark grizzly thriller and it created that setting perfectly, shooting it almost entirely at night, the grizzly cut scenes to the killers house, the blood and brutality. But this was its only success.
The South Korean Police Force maybe flawed, but in this movie they were portrayed as bumbling clowns. The director tried to get a laugh out of them, and this didn't fit with the nature of the film, a true story about a brutal serial killer and an inept criminal justice system.
The film itself is filled with so many unexplained mysteries and so many implausible situations. Whilst they may have really occurred, the director fails to transfer this honestly to the screen.
The film leaves you with more questions than answers, I know some critics will say, "It's a true story, its what really happened". But this isn't enough. If you're going to make a film there has to be a satisfactory resolution to the questions asked in the film, and that can only be answered by the film.
The film itself does contain mystery and suspense, enough to stop you from switching it off, and at times it does draw you in, but the excitement fizzles out slowly.
If you're a fan of Asian cinema then I would recommend it, I'm sure some fans will love this movie, I loved it it for about 40% of the time. It will become an important part of Korean cinema & culture. For fans it is worth a watch. But if you don't watch many Asian films, steer clear
My Favs/Recommends 1. Twilight Samurai (Japan) 2. Infernal Affairs (China) 3. A Bittersweet Life (S.Korea)
Chaser gets a 6/10...So much promise, but fails to deliver.
The basic premise of the story; a few prostitutes go missing, their pimp-a former detective-goes out in search of the girls, and it becomes a race against time to get the killer behind bars.
30mins of the movie in, I was mesmerised. The mood had been set and the story was ready to unfold, but it just didn't, and started to become farcical.
This was supposed to be a dark grizzly thriller and it created that setting perfectly, shooting it almost entirely at night, the grizzly cut scenes to the killers house, the blood and brutality. But this was its only success.
The South Korean Police Force maybe flawed, but in this movie they were portrayed as bumbling clowns. The director tried to get a laugh out of them, and this didn't fit with the nature of the film, a true story about a brutal serial killer and an inept criminal justice system.
The film itself is filled with so many unexplained mysteries and so many implausible situations. Whilst they may have really occurred, the director fails to transfer this honestly to the screen.
The film leaves you with more questions than answers, I know some critics will say, "It's a true story, its what really happened". But this isn't enough. If you're going to make a film there has to be a satisfactory resolution to the questions asked in the film, and that can only be answered by the film.
The film itself does contain mystery and suspense, enough to stop you from switching it off, and at times it does draw you in, but the excitement fizzles out slowly.
If you're a fan of Asian cinema then I would recommend it, I'm sure some fans will love this movie, I loved it it for about 40% of the time. It will become an important part of Korean cinema & culture. For fans it is worth a watch. But if you don't watch many Asian films, steer clear
My Favs/Recommends 1. Twilight Samurai (Japan) 2. Infernal Affairs (China) 3. A Bittersweet Life (S.Korea)
Chaser gets a 6/10...So much promise, but fails to deliver.