Thriller movies are always fun to watch, especially those based on true events. And, the South Korean movie industry knows how to mix drama and dread. So, if you are a fan of Korean thrillers, here’s a list to help you decide what to watch next.
This list features the best of fictional tales that’ll keep you at the edge of your seats as well as true stories that unfold like your worst nightmare.
10. Midnight
‘Midnight’ is a spine-chilling Korean thriller movie that has the potential to make you stay up for days without forgetting a single detail. Do Shik is a murderer, and Kyeong Mi is a young, beautiful woman who has a hearing impairment. Her life takes a turn when she witnesses a murder – she sees Do Shik stabbing someone, only for the killer to make her the next target. Kyeong Mi’s family gives everything to protect her, but each moment is like a ticking bomb. Will she be able to protect herself from the killer? Well, that’s for you to find out.
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9. Kill Boksoon
Typically, murderers were seen as merciless males on screen, but ‘Kill Boksoon’ flipped that narrative completely. Here is a female protagonist named Gil Bok-Soon, who is a stone-cold serial murderer. She kills for clients in her professional life, but at home, she is a single mother. What rocks Bok-Soon’s world? Before renewing her contract with the company that employs her, she is thrust into a kill-or-be-killed conflict.
8. The Chaser
‘The Chaser’ is more of an antagonist-versus-antagonist tale than a protagonist against the bad guy. In the movie, an ex-policeman runs a prostitution ring which lowkey makes him a criminal, yet he tries to catch another criminal. Why? One of his girls goes missing, and the more he digs for the truth, the closer he gets to a serial killer. The question remains: who would win the war?
7. Train To Busan
Even those who aren’t keen on Korean movies are aware of this terrifying cinematic ride. To dive into the story of ‘Train to Busan‘, you must prepare yourself to face man-eating zombies. The plot however isn’t about the created monsters; instead, the onus is on the humans journeying on the train. They have to protect themselves, making hard choices and sacrifices, but the cost is too high at times. The film offers action, thrill, and tears seamlessly.
6. Bedevilled
‘Bedevilled’ is one of the most popular South Korean thriller and horror movies which has earned numerous awards. The story follows Kim Bok Nam—an innocent soul living on a remote island. Bok Nam hides a dark secret and needs to escape. But things get difficult as the residents of the village start acting cruel and a brutal fate awaits her, which turns her life upside down.
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5. Oldboy
‘Oldboy’ is a blend of unbelievable action and heart-racing mystery that would make you question every moment of the movie. It keeps getting interesting bit by bit, but at the same time, it confuses viewers just like the clueless protagonist. We meet a man who has been convicted by an unknown individual for years. Upon release, he sets out to uncover the identity of the man who made him a prisoner. The final twist is quite disgusting, but the movie is certainly memorable for its thrill factor.
4. I Saw The Devil
This is an amazing Korean action thriller that will stay evergreen but was a hidden gem for too long. Starring Lee Byung Hun and Choi Min Sik, ‘I Saw the Devil’ is an uncomfortable watch about a man seeking revenge on the murderer who killed his pregnant fiancée. His training as a secret agent certainly comes in handy and when violence mounts, he doesn’t back off.
3. Silenced
‘Silenced’ is not just a movie, it was a revolution that changed the South Korean system. Based on a true story that shook the entire nation, it tells the story of a new teacher at a school for students with hearing impairments. Led by the phenomenal actor Gong Yoo, we find out a grisly secret of the educational institution. The staff is complacent and the evil is the one everyone trusts.
2. Parasite
Bong Joon Ho’s Oscar-winning movie, ‘Parasite,’ deserves to be on the list and is a must-watch for cinema lovers. The masterpiece focuses on a poor family of four, and their diabolical attempts to change their suffering into success. The Kims live in a basement apartment in horrible conditions. They slowly infiltrate the wealthy Park family, taking jobs from driver to tutor. But, their bid to change their fate unfolds in sinister ways around the household. The movie’s social commentary sets it apart from mainstream thrillers.
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1. Memories Of Murder
The movie holds a mirror to South Korea’s real injustices. As everyone was battling with economic issues, two local detectives uncovered a series of mysterious murders. Inspired by the Hwaseong murder case that occurred between 1986 and 1991, the crime thriller portrays the terror that gripped the nation as the murderer roamed freely. Many young women were sexually assaulted and killed in a gruesome manner. ‘Memories of Murder’ perfectly captures that ugly mood and tension. Rest assured, you will not be able to stop thinking about the story even after the credits roll.
