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Kim Yoon-seok, Jung-woo Ha, Seo Yeong-heui, Yoo-jung Kim, In-gi Jeong ... see more see more... , Choi Jung-Woo , Min Kyung-Jin , Hyo-ju Park , Koo Bon-Wong , Oh Woo-jung , Yoo Ji-yeon , Kim Sun-Young , Yo-sep Song , Ha Sung-kwang , Cho Deuk-je , Hong jae-sung

An ex-policeman-turned-street-smart pimp attempts to capture the elusive serial killer who has been preying on his girls in this stylish South Koran thriller from first-time feature filmmaker Na Hong-... read more read more...jin. Jung-ho is a former cop who now operates on the other side of the law. When his girls start disappearing without clearing their debts, Jung-ho rightly begins to suspect foul play. Shortly thereafter, Jung-ho receives a call for a girl and dispatches Mi-jin -- recognizing all too late that his latest customer's telephone number exactly matches that of the man who hired the last prostitute that went missing. His detective's instincts now kicking into full gear, Jung-ho races desperately through the streets in search of Mi-jin. After denting a car in a dark ally, the eagle-eyed pimp notices that the driver of the car he collided with is wearing a blood-spattered shirt. Jung-ho gives chase, eventually catching the man and discovering that his name is Young-min. Later, at the police station, Young-min admits that he is indeed the killer that police have been searching for, and that Mi-jin is quite possibly still alive. Though the police aren't convinced that there is any hope for Mi-jin, given the number of corpses popping up around town as of late, Jung-ho believes that Young-min is telling the truth. The law states that the police can only hold the suspected serial killer for 12 hours, but is that enough time for Jung-ho to rescue Mi-jin and prove Young-min's guilt? ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Flixster Users

89% liked it

4,039 ratings

Critics

82% liked it

28 critics

Unrated, 2 hr. 4 min.

Directed by: Hong-jin Na

Release Date: February 1, 2008

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DVD Release Date: August 4, 2009

Stats: 826 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (826)

  • fb1463751009
    March 10, 2012
    fb1463751009
    A classically made movie that is tense, captivating, and excellently paced. About every Korean movie that I've seen, I've dug the gritty, realistic, and riveting nature of the stories but always desired for more thematic or moralistic content and "The Chaser" is no different. The... read more director takes us for a ride and he knows he is. What I especially admired about this movie was how there weren't any special mechanics, unique camera angles, or "indie-like scenes" that puzzle the mind; he lets the engrossing story do its work -- a classically made movie. The director's confident with the content that he has (Performances all around was superb, screenplay was engaging, and pacing was near-perfect). Extremely tense and frantic thriller that is sure to entertain; even the comic relief worked. On the contrary, there isn't much to it afterwards. "The Chaser" falls short from being a masterpiece... but that's many of the Korean movies that have been coming out nowadays. "The Chaser" is highly recommended. Adjusted the rating from 3 1/2 to 4 stars.
  • garyX
    June 21, 2011
    garyX
    An ex-cop fired for corruption now working as a pimp investigates when his girls start to go missing, leading him to a serial killer who is holding one of them hostage. The Chaser is not really what I was expecting. I was hoping for a kind of serial killer version of Heat, but ra... read morether than a charismatic criminal mastermind like a Hannibal Lecter, the villain here is just a nasty, sadistic little scumbag. He is also caught very early on in the film and spends much of it in custody as our "hero" tries to track down the missing girl before he is released for lack of evidence, which kind of dispenses with the mystery aspect of the story as well. For these reasons the film skirts a little too close to torture porn for my tastes and so it didn't appeal to me as much as it might have. On the plus side, it is a very well made film with solid performances all round, nice photography and skilled direction which makes for a quality thriller that will be worth a look for those interested in the serial killer genre. I was just hoping for a little more.
  • DrBenway
    June 13, 2011
    DrBenway
    Time and time, again, I've been impressed with the quality of film from S. Korea. I enjoy filmmakers taking their time to tell a story and to stray somewhat from conventional formulas found in other Asian markets, as well as the good ol' U.S. of A.

    The dynamic of dualities ... read moreis very interesting. It demonstrates detective work by one that is not bound by the law and another group's ineptitude by being tied down through bureaucracies. The Chaser shows us how the very system we create to bring those to justice, is sometimes as impotent and powerless in the face of those monsters as are their victims. If you enjoy crime dramas, you can't go wrong with this film.

    As a sidenote; it also stars a very young child actor who can actually act. Children in these types of films, or most types of films ( I'm speaking to you, Jaden Smith) usually break the spell of being engaged in a story due to poor acting chops. In the case of The Chaser, the young girl had me all misty-eyed.

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  • imrealgod
    March 31, 2011
    imrealgod
    Most of the popular South Korean movies have been successful in striking a deal with me too. And if it's a thriller/horror, I'm overjoyed.

    Having heard too many praises about "The Chaser" only led to higher expectations, which, in turn, led to relatively more disappointment. It ... read morewas undeniably a good thriller, but overall, I didn't feel it much different than the usual serial killer movies.
  • itsjustme2004
    November 14, 2010
    itsjustme2004
    Very graphic violence makes this film hard to watch at times, but if you can handle that then this is a pretty good thriller. The character of the pimp grows on you, as does the child. BUT,,,they could have cut out a good 30 min, cuz it has some downtime moments they could have d... read moreone without. Otherwise, pretty darn good.
  • Alireza64ir
    September 12, 2010
    Alireza64ir
    Although it doesnt offer anything new and isnt unique and stylish like Chan-wook Park and Joon-ho Bong's movies.But it's a must see ,it has many cool sequences and you will enjoy the whole movie.
  • blacksheepboy
    April 28, 2010
    blacksheepboy
    What a surprising film, a Korean serial killer thriller that defies the viewer's expectations and combines taut suspense with black humor to insert an unlikely (anti-)hero in a truly unpredictable story and grab the audience by the feet.
  • skactopus
    February 26, 2010
    skactopus
    Hong-jin Na's The Chaser is a Korean thriller that travels down an unusual road.

    The story comes down to events. More specifically, the beginning and the ending events. The early going of this picture is quite the suspense thriller, and at this point the story looks li

    ... read moreke it is heading down an exciting path. However, things change and with what happens in the middle, it is somewhat of a surprise that this film reaches 2 hours. The middle hour isn't exactly boring because the film making is good, but there is no sense of urgency for many things that transpire. There are some unlikeable moments.

    All is forgiven in the last half an hour. Somewhat. This part of the film does an excellent job at creating a hero to route for, as well as an extremely hate-able villain. At the same time, it is unsatisfying. Why? Just watch it and find out.

    The acting is great. Kim Yun-seok is a formidable lead, while the young adorable Kim Yoo-jeong impresses the most in the middle.

    The Chaser does a lot of things right; however, it is the unsatisfying and upsetting moments throughout the picture that disappoint. Is it worth seeing? Very much so.
  • briandeguelle
    December 13, 2009
    briandeguelle
    Bold, solid and gripping something i havn't seen in a thriller in a long time.This is a great movie from korea and certain given hollywoodland a lession or two on making a great thriller.Have read somewhere that hollywood is doing a remake so get to see this one first before that... read more muck it up.
  • kiriyamakazou
    October 24, 2009
    kiriyamakazou
    The Chaser takes on the tone of many similar, gritty Korean movies. It's great, but it's often unlikable. The Chaser angers it's audience by not following conventions. The darkness brings a sense that this is probably what 'would' happen, not what 'should' happen. The film is yet... read more another attack on the incompetence of the police force and how it's all politics, rather than protecting and serving. The films subplot has most of the police being distracted by an incident involving the mayor and a bag of poo. This leaves us the oddest of heroes, in an ex-cop, now pimp, whom is simply looking for one of his girls. Korea does it again.

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Critic Reviews

Michael Phillips
February 4, 2010
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

I've more or less had it with this stuff, but the film is distinguished by the grubby velocity of his foot chases, and the effectiveness of its craft (not to mention the unglamorous resolution of at l... Full Review

J. R. Jones
February 2, 2010
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

Easily the best cop thriller since The Departed. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 28, 2010
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The Chaser is an expert serial-killer film from South Korea and a poster child for what a well-made thriller looked like in the classic days. Full Review

Nick Schager
December 30, 2009
Nick Schager, Village Voice

The pessimism of Na's slick debut rings false. Full Review

Justin Chang
October 18, 2008
Justin Chang, Variety

A grisly serial-killer thriller that develops into a howl of outrage at the ineptitude of the system. Full Review

Joseph Proimakis
March 26, 2010
Joseph Proimakis, Movies for the Masses

click to read full review Full Review

Avi Offer
December 31, 2009
Avi Offer, NYC Movie Guru

A gritty, stylish crime thriller that's initially suspenseful and compelling, but eventually becomes pedestrian, unsurprising, preposterous and even somewhat tedious. Full Review

Louis Proyect
December 30, 2009
Louis Proyect, rec.arts.movies.reviews

A sizzling film noir that evokes the disillusionment of a once self-confident "tiger" economy. Full Review

Joseph Jon Lanthier
December 30, 2009
Joseph Jon Lanthier, Slant Magazine

Unlike the directors of Infernal Affairs, Hong-Jin refreshingly fuels his philosophical engine with montage. Full Review

Aaron Hillis
December 30, 2009
Aaron Hillis, Time Out New York

South Korean first-timer Na Hong-jin offers nasty thrills, manic foot chases and some genuinely subversive riffs on the police procedural. Full Review

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