In this utterly riveting, twisting, no-holds-barred thriller, an ex-cop turned pimp races against time to locate one of his girls after she’s kidnapped by a serial killer who’s been terrorising the streets of Seoul.
The Chaser is a grisly serial-killer thriller that develops into a howl of outrage at the ineptitude of the system.
Screened as part of NZIFF 2009
The Chaser 2008
Chugyeogja
“Go The Chaser. Writer-director Na Hong-jin's smashing debut thriller vibrates in sympathy with its desperate anti-hero – a disgraced cop turned pimp – racing to rescue one of his girls from a slacker serial killer. Na shows impeccable taste in stealing from genre classics both familiar (Silence of the Lambs) and comparatively obscure (The Silent Partner), but his clenched frustration with urban chaos and police corruption is felt and urgent. The scrambling messiness of the fights and chases juices the tension to almost unbearable levels.” — David Chute, LA Weekly
“Yet another example of how Korean cinema excels at transforming and transcending genre... Halfway through I found myself wondering why Hollywood hasn't bought the rights yet. Oh wait, they have. With Leonardo, no less. Sigh.” — Filmbrain
One of Korean cinema's biggest hits last year, The Chaser took the awards for best picture, director, actor and screenplay at the 2008 Korean Film Awards.