Since I started turning my love of film into a job, I have realized a few things about myself. One of these discoveries is that I really love South Korean thrillers. There is something about the violent, emotional, and usually upsetting content in these gems that makes my cold little heart happy. I feel so full of warmth after seeing someone wipe out a bunch of henchmen with a hammer. Or watching a woman screw up someone’s past when they fail her in the future. So, I decided to make this a streaming guide problem and share some titles with the rest of you. Check which 10 movies I think you should watch this week.
The Call (2020)
Director: Lee Chung-hyeon
Where You Can Watch: Netflix
A phone connects women who live in the same home but 20 years apart. Which also allows a serial killer to change the past of the other woman. I stumbled across this movie by accident while planning a season of one of my podcasts. It quickly became one of my favorite Netflix finds and features one of my favorite villainous performances.
Forgotten (2017)
Director: Jang Hang-jun
Where You Can Watch: Netflix
A man seeks answers after his missing brother returns a different man who has no recollection of the past 19 days. I love a thrilling mystery and am already overly invested in this disappearance with a side of amnesia. This movie has been on my list forever, and I think we should all watch it before it leaves Netflix.
Insane (2016)
Director: Lee Cheol-ha
Where You Can Watch: Plex and Tubi
A woman finds herself suddenly locked away in a psychiatric hospital, so she begins documenting the disturbing events around her. Meanwhile, a TV personality works to uncover what goes on within the asylum walls. I recently discovered this one and moved it towards the top of my list of movies to check out. If it is even half as good as it looks, it’s going to be a ride.
I Saw The Devil (2010)
Director: Kim Jee-woon
Where You Can Watch: Hulu
After the brutal murder of his fiancé, a secret agent becomes obsessed with making her killer pay. This movie is cinema, baby! My biggest note is the runtime, but it is a minor concern with a game of cat and mouse this twisted. Please note the sexual assault content warnings if this is a first watch.
Memoir of a Murderer (2017)
Director: Won Shin-yun
Where You Can Watch: Peacock, The Roku Channel, Tubi, and Viki
A retired serial killer struggling with Alzheimer’s Disease attempts to protect his daughter from her dangerous boyfriend. Leave it to South Korea to find ways to shake up the crime thriller formula. I am looking forward to finally watching this one while it’s streaming this month too. It comes highly recommended by people who know my tastes pretty well.
Memories Of Murder (2003)
Director: Bong Joon-ho
Where You Can Watch It: Tubi
Detectives struggle to find a serial rapist and murderer in 1986. This neo-noir is practically required viewing for fans of Bong Joon-ho. Because I am a recovering theatre kid, I have to point out that it is based on the play Come to See Me by Kim Kwang-rim. The play is based on South Korea’s first confirmed serial killer. So, this movie is especially heavy, and you will want to find comfort as soon as the credits are over.
Midnight (2021)
Director: Kwon Oh-Seung
Where You Can Watch: Fandango At Home, Peacock, Plex, Prime Video, and Tubi
A deaf woman accidentally interrupts a serial killer, which results in her becoming his next target. This Korean thriller has a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and seems made for me. It had the misfortune of being released in 2021, so it did not get as much attention as it deserved. I plan to hit play and fix that immediately if it is even half as cool as it looks.
Oldboy (2003)
Director: Park Chan-wook
Where You Can Watch It: Netflix
A man is kidnapped and held prisoner for fifteen years only to be released and instructed to find his captor. I saw Oldboy on the big screen last year, and it changed my brain chemistry. This is possibly the most violent and iconic movie on this list. I cannot say enough nice things about it. There is also no way to prepare you for this journey if you have not already experienced it. However, I will say that once you have collected your thoughts, it is fun to rewatch and see where some of our more recent favorite thrillers picked up some of their inspiration. Excuse me while I look longingly at Monkey Man one more time.
Parasite (2019)
Director: Bong Joon-ho
Where You Can Watch It: Max
A lower-class family manages to find a way into the world of a wealthy one. The rich and the poor collide in hilarious and deadly ways in this Oscar-winning thriller. This movie is a cinematic masterpiece that managed to surprise us all. It is definitely time to revisit this funny and tragic tale that only gets more timely every second.
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002)
Director: Park Chan-wook
Where You Can Watch: Fandango At Home, Plex, and Tubi
After being fired, a man kidnaps the daughter of his former employer in hopes the ransom money will pay for his sister’s surgery. However, everything goes wrong, resulting in a bloody quest for revenge. We love to see it! While this Korean thriller does not get as much love as the others on this list, it is a Park Chan-wook film with a cast that includes Bae Doona and Song Kang-ho. So, it is obviously worth your time and deserves way more attention.
Have you already seen all of these South Korean thrillers? Then let us know what your favorites are @horrormovieblog.
