I have such intense adoration for Guillermo del Toro. I admire his ability to reliably deliver quality cinema whether working with an existing IP or an original idea. He’s versatile and talented, a filmmaker whose output always warrants a watch. Moreover, from what I’ve seen of him on social media and in interviews, he seems to be a genuinely thoughtful human.
In addition to being an all-around good guy and creating iconic films of his own, del Toro also has a proven track record of spotlighting quality cinematic recommendations on social media. I’ve tracked down more than a few titles he’s championed and I’m better for it.
I’m back with another rec from the Oscar-winning filmmaker today. However, I should warn you that this one is a doozy. It’s a film that most people are content to watch only once. I’m talking about Kim Jee-woon’s serial killer horror thriller I Saw the Devil.
The setup for this Guillermo del Toro-endorsed K-horror goes like this:
On a dark road, taxi driver Kyung-chul (Choi Min-sik) comes across a scared female motorist stranded in a broken-down vehicle. He pulls over—but not to help her. When the woman’s head is discovered in a local river, her devastated fiancé, Kim Soo-hyeon (Lee Byung-hun), a trained secret agent, becomes obsessed with hunting down her killer. Once he finds Kyung-chul, things get twisted. After brutally beating the murderer, Kim lets him go free, and a demented game of cat and mouse begins.
The Pan’s Labyrinth director previously took to X to share his appreciation for the depraved film via his ‘Righting a Wrong’ series (a recurring mini-feature that showcases overlooked and underrated films). His tweet reads: “Extra Righting a Wrong: I Saw the Devil by Kim Jee-woon. Breathtaking. One of the most relentless films ever. The Fury Road of serial killers.”
Where is I Saw the Devil available to stream?
If you’re not put off by the promise of a devastating viewing experience, you can stream I Saw the Devil on Peacock as of the publication of this post.
If you’re on the fence about whether or not you’re ready to experience I Saw the Devil, check out the red band trailer in the player below.
That’s all that we have for you at present, dear reader. Stay tuned to the site for more exciting recommendations from cherished cinematic luminaries as we successfully unearth them. If you’d like to discuss further why Guillermo del Toro is a global treasure, come find me on Threads @FunWithHorror.
Categorized:News
