Murderer (2014) Movie Review

 

Murderer (Original title: Sal in Ja) | 2014 | 1h 15m
Genre: Drama/Thriller | Country: South Korea
Director: Lee Gi-Wook | Writers: Lee Gi-Wook
Cast: Kim Hyun Su, Ahn Do-Gyoo, Ma Dong-seok
IMDB: 5.0
My Rate: 7/10

Joo-hyeop, a cold-blooded killer, lives with his son, Yong-ho, in a suburban area, concealing his true identity.  His secret is threatened when Ji Soo, a new student at his son's school, enters their lives and know his secret.

Warning:

Contains scenes of violence, sexual content, nudity, suicide, self-harm, and strong language.

 
Synopsis:

Yong Ho (Ahn Do Kyu) lives in the suburbs with his father (Ma Dong-Seok). Yong Ho is often bullied and ostracized by his peers because his father works as a dog breeder. He's constantly taunted about smelling like a dog, making him withdrawn.

One day, Yong Ho meets Ji Soo (Kim Hyun Su) hiding under a bridge. Ji Soo is a new student at Yong Ho's school. Yong Ho tries to befriend her.

Initially, Ji Soo is indifferent to Yong Ho. However, after he saves her from bullies, she opens up to him. They interact frequently until Yong Ho accidentally injures a bully with a knife while protecting Ji Soo. Instead of gratitude, Ji Soo becomes frightened and avoids Yong Ho, especially after learning his father's true identity.

Will Yong Ho overcome his inner conflict?

 

Review:

According to Wikipedia, Murderer is inspired by the true story of serial killer Kang Ho-soon, though it bears no resemblance. Instead of focusing on the killer, Lee Gi-Wook presents a different perspective, emphasizing the son's point of view.  The son questions his destiny.

The story idea of taking this rarely explored perspective is interesting, but many aspects could be improved, particularly the plot's logic. Several illogical elements appear.

While the filmmaker aims to show the son's perspective, it's crucial to clarify the father's background. The intro, where he kills his adulterous wife, establishes a clear motive. However, if the father is to be categorized as a serial killer, the audience should see the motives behind his other murders to understand the son's feelings.

Ji-soo, Yong Ho's new friend from Seoul, is key, but her background is underdeveloped. While the film shows how Ji Soo encountered Yong Ho's father in the past, putting her in danger, it doesn't show how she survived.

The film should show how she reunited with her family, their reaction to the incident, her trauma, and other information to help understand her personality. Her relationship with her mother seems strained; her near-death experience seems to be taken lightly by her family. This weakens the audience's connection with Ji Soo.

Another illogical aspect is the statement from Yong Ho's teacher.  The seemingly kind, positive, and idealistic teacher makes an unreasonable statement.  When Yong Ho asks if a good child can be born to bad parents, the teacher replies, "impossible," because the "bad blood" flows in his body. This is an illogical statement for a teacher to make.

The conflict builds well as Yong Ho grapples with being the son of a murderer. His status shakes his relationship with Ji Soo, dealing him a major blow. However, the resolution is somewhat illogical. The story could have been directed differently to better achieve the film's initial purpose.

Overall, the film is still enjoyable, and the acting is quite good.

 
Memorable Scene:

After learning his father's true identity, Yong-ho contacts Ji-soo.  Yong-ho's dialogue reveals his surprise and disappointment, but he doesn't hate his father because he's the only one he has in his life.

 
Memorable Dialogue:

"If I drink good blood, I could be a good person."

 

Ending:

Sad Ending

 
Recommendation:

Worth to Watch

 

(Aluna)