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Ever have a film watching experience where you came away disliking what you've just watched yet can't quite pin-point what was wrong? Where you're not entirely certain if your own mood might have been the negative factor or if some little detail in an otherwise well made movie triggered some kind of subconscious disagreeable response?

That's pretty much how I feel about this. One thing that definitely did affect my viewing experience slightly was the way that a lot of dialogue is delivered while we're seeing images of the characters as they aren't speaking. This is an interesting directorial choice maybe intended to add a sense of detachment and bewilderment to proceedings, but unfortunately it doesn't work so well with subtitles as it's much harder to figure out who's actually saying what. That's not so much a criticism of the filmmaking itself though.

Otherwise I just found this a relatively miserable experience. That makes sense given the subject matter and again might be more to do with my mindset at the time I was watching it but I really don't know. Most of the characters grated on me, which is incredibly rare for Korean cinema in my experience. Maybe the world of political campaigning is just inherently off putting to me? I certainly can't pin-point any flaws in the acting or cinematography in general. Overall it just didn't sit right with me.

I would still recommend this if you are a fan of Korean mystery thrillers, though moreso to see if I'm alone in my feelings or not. It's taut, well made, rife with twists and turns, bleak, and pretty disturbing. Just not for me I guess.

Loved the setting and the patient approach to character development but was let down by the "creature" itself. Worth watching if you crave snowy, small-town locations in your horror and don't mind a slow burn that takes it's time to let you get to know the characters. Great reliance on tension and atmosphere. Loses points for that final obnoxious CGI jump-scare. STOP DOING THAT!

Watching this last night I appreciated it more than I had on previous occasions. Sure, it's schlocky and ridiculous but it plays out almost like a loving homage to pulpy 50's B-movies/trashy horror novels. Miguel Ferrer plays such a total asshole that he renders the character somehow lovable and compelling through the sheer determination of his performance. The titular beast itself is ridiculous in both concept and execution (I love his Halloween costume Dracula cape) and all the more wonderful for it. The cinematic landscape of lonely small-town airfields is unique and effective and there are also a few moments of pretty great practical effect grue.

Not recommended for folks only satisfied by horror that they can take deadly seriously but if you want something that's fun and has the mid-to-late-90's hue of one of the wackier monster-of-the-week X-Files episodes then go for it.

In 1980's Korea the methods used by a team of thuggish and inept small town police clash with those of a detective from Seoul who s the investigation into the continuing murders of young women in the area.

Sounds like pretty textbook stuff on paper but Memories of Murder is somewhat of a tapestry. Firstly, there's the distinctively Korean blending of humour with incredibly dark subject matter. You'd be forgiven for assuming this would detract from the drama or create a sense of tonal dissonance but it's actually quite the opposite; the more light-hearted elements are handled with such a deft and naturalistic hand that they only serve to add more humanity to the film. Then there's the attention to procedural detail, and non of that flashy CSI shit, this is police work at it's most awkward, haphazard and mistake-riddled, working simultaneously as an interesting and maybe more sincere twist on the serial killer investigation premise and as a clear indictment of unethical police work: the characters have no qualms about fabricating evidence or torturing suspects into confessing. It's amazing then that by the end of the film we feel a deep pathos for these detectives as their growth as characters, Park Doo-Man in particular, reflects the futility and inescapable human tragedy of the situation.

The cinematography and locations here are second to none too. Whether it's a beautifully framed shot of the Korean countryside beneath a vast blue sky or the dingy basement of a local police station, everything feels tangible and reserved yet incredibly artistically crafted.

Not only does this film work as an enjoyable, often darkly comedic character drama and a compelling and suspenseful mystery thriller but it transcends to an elegiac meditation on humanities darker habits and leaves you with the harrowing feeling that the suffering of innocence is sometimes a heartbreaking inevitability under that big blue sky.

God knows why but I decided to give this a chance because I was in the mood for some early 2000's stoner comedy nostalgia. Turns out I'm ill-equipped to give the movie a totally fair rating because I turned it off after about 20 minutes but that was more than enough for my brain before it decided to extricate itself from this witless, offensively unfunny, frontal lobotomy of a film.

I totally get why there's a lot of hate for this movie. But I love it.

Gave this film a spur of the moment re-watch which pushed up my rating. Something about the entitled rich kids in massive houses* remains unrelatable to me and some of that 90's obnoxiousness present in the characters and the horror 101 elements are still a little hard to swallow. But these complaints become more peripheral and inconsequential each time I revisit this film because it stands so strong as an extremely well crafted horror/mystery film. I don't think it's just the way that my nostalgia for all things 90's appreciates as the decade becomes more distant either. That might be a small part of it, but there's so much good stuff here in evidence without the aid of rose-tinted spectacles. The opening scene alone makes this notable as a classic but overall it's incredibly enjoyable and cleverly put together.

*Though I understand that the penetration of horror into such a seemingly idyllic world is part of the films effectiveness. I just prefer a little more grit in my slasher films.

Deals in unpredictable, merciless eruptions of violence that feel blunt and hauntingly real. Racks up the tension in a way that's all too rare in the modern landscape of cinema and delivers punch after punch of do-or-die terror. You're there with these kids in every scene as the film harmonises the vulnerability of their position in the nightmare situation where they find themselves with the vulnerability of the fragile human frame. Stomach churningly effective.

Watched on Monday May 2, 2016.

Watched on Sunday May 1, 2016.

This didn't do anything to change my opinion that The Happy Mondays are absolute shite but it was a pretty fun watch.

Watched on Monday April 4, 2016.

Watched on Sunday April 3, 2016.

William Friedkin made this?

What the fuck went wrong?

This film utterly disturbed me but due more to shocking content than actual atmosphere. Kind of an average ghost flick with some moments of nasty gore and mean-spiritedness spattered here and there. it's quite watchable and does feature some unique elements but I felt more depressed than haunted by the end and the final "boo" jumpscare was as much a finger in the eye as ever.

I thought this would be about terrible cheap cider that makes you go blind.

I have no doubt that this was better in every regard than any film that won any Oscar.

I think this is a little overrated actually. Shoot me.

What a gyp.

Amazing creature effects but terrible characters.

Extremely intense and compelling but thoroughly, harrowingly depressing.

Simple, dumb Halloween fun. It's no Trick 'R Treat but it does what it needs to in that it very accurately and quite fondly captures the ambience of everyone's favourite holiday;

Life Day.

This movie jingles all the way into the discount bin. And my heart.

I haven't actually seen this but I'm certain it manages to make war atrocities against children seem comparatively hilarious.

Every time I watch this film I'm struck by how nuanced the dialogue is, how clever a lot of the jokes are and how likeable and well crafted each character is.

Imagine if it had been made in the late 90's or the 00's:

Instead of ultimately being portrayed as a positive figure who actually had the best interests of his students at heart, Mr Hand would have been totally vilified and probably ended up the victim of a casually cruel prank that we're supposed to view as a positive outcome because he's the "lame old bad guy". And at some point a song by Bowling For Soup would have soundtracked a scene where Brad takes a shit on a burger and forces a customer to eat it. And Ratner and Stacy would have had horribly unrealistic loveless sex with Teenage Dirtbag playing over it. Then the film would end with Josh Hartnett giving Ratner a high five for losing his virginity thus finally becoming cool and acceptable while Mr Hand drowns in a vat of puke and animal carcasses in the background.

I don't care if it was "unoriginal" or that "the technology should be way more advanced than just X-wings after a whole thirty years"*. This felt like Star Wars and I cried when I saw it. And not the same kind of tears that I cried when Jar Jar Binks stepped in the poo.

*Because it's not like we're still using jet fighters and battleships from thirty years ago is it? Never mind the fact that we're looking at ragtag organisations in a period of post war recovery. Everything in the OT looked at least 30 years old anyway. Star Wars is not a franchise about rapidly advancing technology.

My Dad was watching this the other day. He said it was good.

He was wrong.

This is pretty bad but my ever inflating, mid-life crisis induced nostalgia for the 90's means I secretly enjoy it.

A lot of people might suggest I have no right to rate this given that I shut it off after a little over 10 minutes. But I'm usually a pretty patient and tolerant viewer. This was just unwatchable.

Watched on Monday September 22, 2014.

Watched on Sunday September 14, 2014.

Watched on Tuesday September 9, 2014.

Watched on Monday September 15, 2014.

Watched on Friday September 12, 2014.

Watched on Thursday September 18, 2014.

Watched on Wednesday September 17, 2014.

Watched on Friday August 29, 2014.

Watched on Sunday August 31, 2014.

Watched on Wednesday August 27, 2014.

Watched on Wednesday August 27, 2014.

Watched on Thursday August 21, 2014.

Watched on Sunday August 24, 2014.

Watched on Monday August 18, 2014.

Watched on Sunday August 17, 2014.

Watched on Thursday August 28, 2014.

Watched on Saturday August 23, 2014.

Watched on Wednesday August 13, 2014.

Watched on Sunday July 20, 2014.

Watched on Saturday July 19, 2014.

Watched on Friday July 18, 2014.

This is a loosely defined list of Korean films generally showcasing mystery or police procedural elements. Most, though not all centre around serial killer cases but several veer into supernatural horror. Basically anything I've seen worth recommending that's South Korean and has a dark tone and an unravelling mystery at it's core.

These aren't all masterpieces on the level of Memories of Murder and The Wailing but they're all worth checking out in my opinion.
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• Memories of Murder
• The Wailing
• Mother
• Memoir of a Murderer
• Children...
• The Chaser
• No Mercy
• I Saw the Devil
• The Chase
• Diary of June

...plus 5 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Anybody old enough to what it was like to peruse the shelves of a local video store is also likely to have certain images from impactful VHS covers imprinted on their memories. I was a pretty wimpy kid so watching horror films was beyond my boundaries back then but when my dad would take me round to Ritz Video (bought out by Blockbuster sometime in the 90's) I would sneak trepidatious yet fascinated glances at the cover art of the scary films. These are the ones that really stuck in my mind.

• The Video Dead
• C.H.U.D.
• Chopping Mall
• Troll
• Sometimes They Come Back... Again
• The Fear
• Thinner
• A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
• Jack Frost
• Beyond Evil

Ten of the most unique and interesting Japanese films that deal in the supernatural; from the spookiest yūrei folk tales to the wackiest of tokusatsu monster flicks.

• The Ghost of Yotsuya
• Matango
• Kwaidan
• Jigoku
• Hiruko the Goblin
• Daimajin
• Sweet Home
• Kuroneko
• Yokai Monsters: 100 Monsters
• House