I Saw the Devil

Name: I Saw the Devil
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Horror, Crime
Released: March 4, 2011
Duration: 141 min
Rating: 67

2011

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 19 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 167 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 167 Ratings

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I Saw The Devil

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Movie Details & Credits

Magnet Releasing | Release Date: March 4, 2011 | Unrated

Summary: On a freezing, snowy night, his latest victim is the beautiful Ju-yeon, daughter of a retired police chief and pregnant fiancée of elite special agent Dae-hoon. Obsessed with revenge, Dae-hoon decides to track down the murderer, even if doing so means becoming a monster himself. And when he finds Kyung-chul, turning him in to theOn a freezing, snowy night, his latest victim is the beautiful Ju-yeon, daughter of a retired police chief and pregnant fiancée of elite special agent Dae-hoon. Obsessed with revenge, Dae-hoon decides to track down the murderer, even if doing so means becoming a monster himself. And when he finds Kyung-chul, turning him in to the authorities is the last thing on his mind. (Magnet Releasing)… Expand

Director: Ji-woon Kim

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Horror, Crime

Rating: Unrated

Runtime: 141 min

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Critic Reviews

Rene Rodriguez

Apr 14, 2011

Director Kim Jee-woon's astonishing story of a serial killer who picks the wrong man's fiancée to murder, is so extreme and intense that it had to be trimmed down in its native country before it was released to theaters. We lucky westerners get to see it in all its hair-raising, stomach-churning glory, and that's a wonderful thing. Read full review

IndieWire Eric Kohn

Mar 3, 2011

Eventually, Soo-hyun's relentless pursuit-and-release approach outlives the director's skill and the premise starts to feel redundant. Read full review

Shawn Levy

Mar 17, 2011

If you've got the stomach for it, it's a treat. Read full review

Jeannette Catsoulis

Mar 4, 2011

A droll Nietzschean fable that's fully aware of its lapses into absurdity. Read full review

Marjorie Baumgarten

Mar 24, 2011

Although the sequences grow somewhat repetitive in spite of their vicious escalation, and some of the details challenge believability, I Saw the Devil is a spectacle of substantial merit. Read full review

Roger Moore

Mar 16, 2011

A thriller that makes you wish you knew how to scream "O.M.G." in Korean. Read full review

Elizabeth Kerr

Mar 1, 2011

On any number of levels, "Devil" is troublesome at best, offensive at worst. Read full review

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User Reviews

kane_mcneill

Feb 12, 2012

Great film..love the characters, the story line, and the mood it sets pulls you in. These genre of horror movies are much different than the US type.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

EVILMADCLOWN

Apr 21, 2011

First off, a lot of people reviewing are missing the point to this film. They write a lot of things about the violence and obscure scenes and they totally miss the point of the movie. You cant summarize this movie with what you see, it needs to take a count for what it makes you feel.

YesFirst off, a lot of people reviewing are missing the point to this film. They write a lot of things about the violence and obscure scenes and they totally miss the point of the movie. You cant summarize this movie with what you see, it needs to take a count for what it makes you feel.

Yes the movie is very violent, very bloody. It will make you cover your eyes of obscenity. Those scenes set up the movie to the emotions you the viewer needs to be in to understand the point of the movie. I think the writer wants to make your mind go to dark places, very dark places. It want's you to scream "REVENGE" and "MAKE HIM SUFFER" and the beauty of the movie is that it does this, perfectly. When the movie comes closer to a conclusion the main point of the movie is revealing it self. You can't get revenge, all you have done to try to get revenge has made you loose even more. All the suffering you inflicted to the villain wont make him regret what he did or ever fear what you will do to him. "You lost already" is the line that says it all.

The movie is a breath of fresh air, one of the best movies i have ever seen. It takes you through a journey to dark places and at the end makes you regret all the dark thoughts the movie made you think.… Expand

5 of 8 users found this helpful53

TTW107

Dec 25, 2011

I am VERY stunned that the metacritic score is 6.7. This movie is simply stunning but not for the faint-hearted. It is beautifully shot with the best example being the camera work in the taxi cab scene; it is absolutely incredible. If Man On FIre and Saw had a baby it would be I Saw TheI am VERY stunned that the metacritic score is 6.7. This movie is simply stunning but not for the faint-hearted. It is beautifully shot with the best example being the camera work in the taxi cab scene; it is absolutely incredible. If Man On FIre and Saw had a baby it would be I Saw The Devil, speaking in american terms. If you want one of the best revenge movies I have ever seen in my life then see this amazing movie.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

filmtrashreview

Jul 18, 2011

Torture porn, revenge fantasy, the darkest of comedies; these are all words the describe this film but none of them in my opinion accurately portray what this is. The film Hostel broke new ground but this film ranks high above it but still cares over Hostel's tendencies. This is not for theTorture porn, revenge fantasy, the darkest of comedies; these are all words the describe this film but none of them in my opinion accurately portray what this is. The film Hostel broke new ground but this film ranks high above it but still cares over Hostel's tendencies. This is not for the weak of heart and if you even think that you might be able to bare it, don't because this film will at some point make you cringe. It's pretty much a requirement to close your eyes. Where films like hostel fail horribly this film succeeds. Brilliant action and writing will have you laughing one moment, cheering the next and possibly crying by the end. A mixture of emotions this is a roller-coaster ride for any fan of artistic cinematography, mind blowing action or horror in general. It might be a foreign film but please don't miss out on this amazing overall experience. This film right now is on Netflix Instant so please check it out!!!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

MrJPrime

Oct 16, 2022

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. What a great film. Some very unique moments that I can't say I've seen in other films. Now... I do wish the agent wouldn't have let him go to murder and hurt more people. That made absolutely no sense. But... It is the point of the movie, catch and release. Great gore, great acting, just a unique horrific film. Highly recommended. That being said I doubt I'll re-watch. Just a good one time watch.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

grandpajoe6191

Sep 13, 2011

Despite the gory violence and mindless blood the movie's plot heads to, "I Saw the Devil" brings revenge into a different level with director Kim's disarming imagery and a powerful, crazy performance by Choi.

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

skills

Jul 11, 2020

It started off nicely and I thought it would be an interesting little thriller. But it ended up being just another dumb torture porn film. Waste of time.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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