So POPSEOUL! was not the only one who thought so.
The movie, “The Chaser” (추격자) is easily the best thriller so far this year. Back in March, I spent most of the movie with one hand covering my face to watch it between my fingers and the other hand clutching the arm of my neighbor. Ha Jung-woo plays the cold and merciless serial killer to a tee. He lacks any remorse in his actions and that makes it all the more scarier. He plays opposite to Kim Yoon-suk, who takes on the role of an ex-cop running a “call girl” operation. When his best “girl” disappears, he goes looking for her and ends up hunting down the killer.
Directed by Na Hong-jin, the movie was picked as the “flick of the week” by the U.K. daily, “The Sun,” earning a well-deserved 5 out of 5 stars. At the end of the review, the article also warned to “Catch it now before it is ruined by a planned Hollywood remake.”-and that is so true.
The movie, “The Chaser” will be re-packaged and remade Hollywood style by the people who produced “The Departed.”
Read the rest of the “The Sun” review here.
Check out the UK trailer. “The Chaser” opens in the U.K. on September 19th.
The Korean trailer is better:
the best suspense thriller i’ve seen in a while but not what i consider an “action” movie, which is why some found it “slow/boring”. although the serial killer/prostitute plot has been overused, the film boasts a gritty script (all the more impressive for being a debut work), replete with dark humor and gratuitous violence, interwoven with humanist social commentary. the multidimensional ex-cop and single mother’s tragic plight leaves you contemplating the disturbing implications of ineptitude fostered by complacency.
the cinematagraphy is good, especially the haunting scenes with seo yeong-hee. there were some plot glitches, but i feel this less polished korean version is more real than the brilliant serial killers and detectives that are a staple of hollywood. in any case, the main objective of this film isn’t to impress you with its cleverness, but to shake you with its sad, messy reality.
despite the lackluster reviews, i still recommend this movie to those who can stand korean cinema. just 10 years ago, i only watched western films so i can see why the chaser may not appeal unless it’s “hollywoodified”.
now, i appreciate what the korean (and asian) film industry has to offer. there is a down-to-earth, unpolished realism that i truly dig (when the acting is actually good, which i’ll admit is usually the exception). i can see many other americans who may not care much for the acting (mannerisms are often culturally influenced so may be underappreciated across the cultural divide) and may write off the realism as unorganized confusion…which is, ironically, what many of the reviews say about this film.
many asian films seem to have trouble with plot organization, but there are many stronger points, such as personal emotion (though the actor’s methods of emoting are sometimes different from their western counterparts) that i don’t find in many hollywood films.
@ recommended despite awkward preview/eb,
You’ve sold it well. I shall now see it pronto.
Damn hollywood. They’ll butcher it.
i have to watch this now. :]
I am SO SICK of Hollywood remaking movies. Why can’t they be original for once?
I’d much rather see the movie the way it is right now, with subtitles.
Anyway, it looks good and you sold it well. I might have to see it now
Memories Of Murder, Sympathy For Mr Vengeance and The Chaser are similar disturbingly creepy stuff..and AWESOME movies..Ha Jung Woo is such a sought after actor now..you guys should watch the english speaking movie Never Forever he acts with Vera Farmiga..daymn sexy!!
Very good movie. Very pleased that it’s well received in UK.
One thing that hurt me about the movie though is the best girl dying, she got hammered to death sorry for letting a spoiler out. She had a child too but i guess that was a realistic take and it did make the movie linger in my head for quite some time. I give it 5 out of 5 too.
This is available on VCD with English subtitles at Yes Asia. Go get your copy!!
this is one hella good movie. keeps you pumped all the way through. the feeling of being there and not yet tehre at the same time is just crazy…the killer omg is freaking freaky.
the trailer doesn’t look very scary.
KOREAN TRAILOR LOOKS MCIH BETTER.
CANT WAIT TO SEE IT.
the hollywood remake of my sassy girl wasn’t half as good as the korean film….the american characters didn’t have the right personalities to fit the roles…the original is always better.
This is the reason I don’t even go to the movies anymore. You go there only to find out its a remake of something else. Originality for goodness sakes! It’s like the directors and writers here in California are saying they don’t have anymore talent. Remakes are only okay if you dig it out of an archive. Meaning, it must be years old and you wish to put a fresh perspective on it. I remember when Jenny, Juno came out(actually when they planned to make it); I was like damn the original was only 4yrs ago.
What people in America need to do is learn to stop being lazy and start reading. It’s what I think, because foreign movies that have subtitles are only on the Sundance Channel years later of it being out. Unless it gets dubbed(which i cannot stand) in English to be put on other channels and become stereotyped for stupid reasons. Anyway…lol I love being long-winded haha
MY POINT: If more people in America appreciated reading, movies from other countries with subtitles would be easily welcoming as the movie is.
Don’t put all the blame on Hollywood. If Asia would stop selling off the rights to remake the movies to the highest bidder there wouldn’t BE any movies to remake. Both parties need to cut the crap out.
what’s going on with hollywood? all these remakes of asian movies… i don’t like it. they’re just remakes of the originals but we all know hollywood is going to get the recognition for it.