Devils
South Korea | Korean, English subtitles
2023 | 106 Minutes
Director: Kim Jae-hoon
Cast: Oh Dae-hwan, Jang Dong-yoon
When it comes to films about serial killers, it feels like everything has already been done – but Devils sets out to prove otherwise. This is a smart and suave film with a whole of good ideas flowing through it; as well as a hefty portion of violence, both physical and subliminal.
It is hard to believe that Devils is in fact the directorial debut of Kim Jae-hoon, as it comes across so perfectly. This is the sort of thing one might expect to come from a seasoned director which makes me excited to see where Jae-hoon goes to next, and further along in his career. For now though, the enthesis is placed firmly on Devils.
See Also: The Bitter Ash at Fantasia Festival 2023
Jae-hwan (Oh Dae-hwan) is a homicide detective bent on taking down a dangerous serial killer named Jin-hyuk (Jang Dong-yoon), who has murdered a ton of victims, including Jae-hwan’s brother-in-law. Filled with anger and hungry for revenge, Jae-hwan will do whatever is necessary to hunt him down. During a frenzied chase, he finally captures him, but then they get into an accident that will forever change their lives. Jae-hwan eventually wakes up in a hospital — however, something is terribly wrong.
He finds out that he looks and sounds like Jin-hyuk, which means their minds are trapped in each other’s bodies. Realizing that his family is in danger, he must find a way to get back to his own body and defeat his nemesis once and for all.
Slight spoilers may possibly be found from this point on. Beware.
Devils is an incredibly violent film with a lot of interesting ideas going within it. Just when I began to think that the whole concept of a detectives hunting serial killers was growing old and repetitive, along comes Devils to thoroughly shut down that notion. There are still fresh takes and new ideas that can be implemented into an a genre filled to the brim with old clichés and this is evidence of that.
With over-the-top and insane, jaw-dropping thrills abound, Devils might be for everyone. Parts are hard to stomach, which will also be what draws a lot of people to it. From the opening scenes there is an extremely violent overtone that serves as a warning for what is to come. It is also well acted and the story is quite remarkable and engrossing. A few plot twists keep things interesting, while the films pace stays at a consistent throughout. When things seem to be headed into unbelievable territory, they are brought back through well explained set pieces and the ride continues.
Surely, comparisons between Devils and John Woo’s masterpiece Face / Off will surface, and it is easy to see why that would happen, but besides the obvious body swap notion, and the cop hunting the bad guy aspect, there really isn’t much more to that notion. Director Kim Jae-hoon was asked about the comparison following the screening of Devils at Fantasia Festival, and while he admits to being influenced by Face / Off and other films that have some form of body swapping ideology, says that he tried hard to distance his film from Face / Off.
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I am already a fan of South Korean cinema, thanks in large part to films such as I Saw The Devil, The Host, Train To Busan, Thirst, The Wailing and of course the formidable Oldboy – and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Devils mentioned among such company. Certainly Devils only ads to my intrigue for South Korean cinema.
Without saying too much; it would seem that there is a chance that a sequel to Devils might be in the work – something director and writer Kim Jae-hook alluded too at a question and answer period following the films screening. Saying that should the interest be there, he has a script ready while tapping his own head. The final scene certainly is opened ended and leaves room for a second film, and hopefully that comes to pass.
