Chaser, The (2008)

Both a Korean box office sensation and an international award winner (including the Korean equivalent of a Best Picture Oscar), "The Chaser" is one of those unexpected films that really gets under your skin. A gritty crime drama, "The Chaser" is known for many things including its unlikely protagonist, its condemnation of the Korean judicial and law enforcement systems, and its vivid brutality. Exciting and uncompromising–the film leaps into action from the first frame and provides a bleak and brutal entertainment that reaches, both viscerally and emotionally, beyond the typical genre trappings. A Hollywood remake is potentially in the offing as the project is currently being developed, but I’d definitely recommend checking out writer/director Hong-jin Na’s original vision first!

2008, colour, 125 minutes, English subtitles