Chaser (2008) | The

The Chaser earned its place alongside Korean classics like Oldboy and Memories of Murder for a reason [5.5]. It’s a "frantic psycho-noir" that is by turns bleak, horrifying, and incredibly moving [5.3, 5.5]. Just be warned: it’s a "brutal film about brutal people," and it won't pull any punches [5.1].

The film follows (Kim Yoon-seok), a disgraced ex-detective who now operates as a pimp [7]. He’s not a hero; in fact, he starts the movie as a pretty despicable guy, only caring about his "girls" when they start disappearing and taking his money with them [5.7, 5.8]. The Chaser (2008)

: Unlike most thrillers that save the "reveal" for the end, The Chaser catches the killer within the first 30 minutes [5.11]. The tension doesn't come from who did it, but from the agonizing bureaucratic red tape and police incompetence that might let him walk free while his victim is still alive [5.11, 10]. The Chaser earned its place alongside Korean classics