The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Boy Erased
Ant-Man and the Wasp
American Vandal
Log in with Facebook
OR
By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies, and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango.
Please enter your email address and we will email you a new password.
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Critic Consensus: No consensus yet.
View All I Saw the Devil News
All Critics (82) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (66) | Rotten (16) | DVD (1)
A remorseless catalogue of calculated violence, casual cannibalism and sexual sadism, this inflicts over two hours of suffering on the audience...
This is the stuff of nightmares, where even the good guy is bad, and as shock cinema goes, it packs a punch.
We lucky westerners get to see it in all its hair-raising, stomach-churning glory, and that's a wonderful thing.
A terrific but uncompromising film that's definitely not for everyone. It's not just that the violence is graphic, but that much of it is so mean-spirited.
After a while, the sheer length and repetitiousness of the film begins to feel pornographic in the dullest sense.
Director Kim Jee-woon is a born filmmaker, even if this script (written by Park Hoon Jung and adapted by Kim) is unworthy of his efforts.
A solid revenge thriller that abandons any pretense of satisfaction and keeps piling on the tragedy.
As a living and breathing piece of cinema, it inhabits its beast in a manner that is arresting on the mind, and almost cringe-inducing to the eyes.
Thanks to the strong directing we get a handful of really fantastic scenes and a number of thrills, which make this a wholly enjoyable film.
It's a terrible time at the movies, and for that it is truly quite great. But you've been warned.
A thriller that makes you wish you knew how to scream "O.M.G." in Korean.
A revenge flick that's just about as uncompromising as anything I've seen come out of Asia in the last decade or so.
Another South Korean "desperate for vengeance" themed flick with generous dose of violence. I am not a fan of action films per se, but I was amazed by the action sequences in this movie. I guess I found it to be so amazing owing to the actors involved in those scenes. If Min-sik Choi was outstanding as a psycho who doesn't know what fear and pain is; Byung-hun Lee was no less competent. On the flipside, the movie is out and out predictable. Besides, the concept of making your enemy suffer instead of letting him die easily, was done just recently (in El Secreto De Sus Ojos). Surely, the treatment is as diverse as chalk and cheese, but it still managed to serve as a drawback for me. Anyways, the movie is still worth a watch for its breathtaking action scenes and power-packed performances. Nothing unique here, but it's a cool vengeance movie that succeeds in holding your interest for 2+ hours (pardon the exaggeration, but I hope you'll get what I'm trying to convey here), despite being outright predictable. (Originally rated on May 19, 2011; made a negligible correction on June 28, 2014!!)
Super Reviewer
The extremely graphic nature of this otherwise generic action/revenge thriller, is definitely not for the squeamish. Although sadistic, repulsive and pointless in its subject matter, the approach is strangely stylish and engaging throughout. Not a pleasant experience, but intense and hard to forget.
Once the credits start rolling, and you reflect on the film you've just seen, it will be hard to find flaws in 'I Saw the Devil.' Ji-woon Kim's direction is top notch, and he keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat the entire film. Min-sik Choi's's acting is incredible, and Byung-hun Lee is no slouch himself. Quite simply, this film is amazing. Grade: B+
A bold and electrifying new breed of revenge film. A shockingly violent and stunningly well made piece of work that`s truly unforgettable and mind-blowing. A bloody, stylish, gripping and absolutely terrifying movie that`s a memorable step forward in the genre. A bone-chilling and heart-pounding adrenaline-charged edge of your seat thriller. A frightening masterpiece that is truly a must-see. Director, Ji-woon Kim crafts one of his most accomplished and brilliant films so far. Revenge films don't get more shocking or exhilarating than this. It`s the real deal. Byung-hun Lee and Min-sik Choi are absolutely sensational. Choi is sadistically brilliant. Lee is magnificent. A spectacular showdown of a cat and mouse game. An intense and powerful thrill-ride that leads you a gut-rotting and breathtaking finish.
View All Quotes
200 Essential Movies
Chosen by RT staff!
200 Freshest Movies
The best-reviewed since 1998
30 Great Scenes
30 great scenes in Rotten movies
Best of Netflix
Movies and shows to binge now
More News & Features
View All