As the reality of educational summer holidays set in and you’ve already exhausted your things-to-do-when-bored list, maybe it’s time to being that lengthy to-watch list you’ve been putting off for so long? That’s certainly the plan of this writer, who might be too old to attend school, but is one of those smug people who works in one, so still gets nearly six weeks of holiday. So, first up is 2012 film Confession of Murder by Jung Byung Gil.
With the Statute of Limitations* up on a series of serial murders, fresh faced Lee Doo Seok (Park Si Hoo) releases a book confessing his identity as the serial killer, detailing the ten murders, and the deadly assault upon Detective Choi Hyeong Goo (Jung Jae Young). But is there more to Lee than meets the eye?
Confession of Murder is an intriguing tale that perfectly utilises many Korean thriller tropes. Hard hitting fight scene? Check. Dark rainy alleyways? Check. Bitter ahjummas? Check. Long, tension-filled, dialogue-less scenes? Check. Violence within the first three minutes? Check.
There’s even what appears to be an homage to much loved villain The Joker, as blood sprays across the murderer’s mask creating a permanent smirk.
Lee’s revelation sees him idolised in a way that could surely only happen in South Korea. The media, and school girls alike, fawn over him despite the horrific crimes he has committed.
Confession of Murder is full of twists you won’t be expecting. As well as being a solid tale of murder and revenge, is also a thought-provoking comment on South Korea’s attitude to idol.
Can your ‘misdeeds’ no matter how big, really be forgiven because you fit the physical appeals of idol culture? Certainly an apt question of late.
* A Statute of Limitation is a law which forbids prosecutors from charging someone with a crime that was committed more than a specified number of years ago.
