Dark yet Breathtaking: Six Korean Noir Films You Must Watch

Generally speaking, Korean noir movies are negative. They belong to the criminal literature or cinema subgenre that is typified by cynicism, fatalism and moral ambiguity. Individuals who are more ethically dubious and flawed than usual frequently appear in these narratives; according to studies, these characters are frequently “fall guys,” a colloquial term for a person to whom guilt is consciously and incorrectly transferred in order to shift blame from another party.

Although the premise, mood, and portrayal of a society that is fundamentally corrupt may seem hopeless, Korean noir is too masterfully handled with its trademark high production standards, deft storytelling, and top-notch acting to be disregarded. You might still wish to explore these seedy, carnal lanes of despair despite their rawness. Check out the six films listed below; they are, in my opinion, some of the best examples of Korean noir cinema.

Old boy (2003)

Old Boy, a critically lauded and hailed neo-noir action thriller helmed by Park Chan-wook, centers on Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik), a man who endures 15 years in a cell that resembles a hotel room. Oh is oblivious as to who is holding him captive or why. His ambiguity multiplies upon discovering himself trapped in a labyrinth of more brutality and deceit, even after being released. The situation spirals out of proportion when he falls in love with a beautiful young chef, Mi Do (Kang Hye-jung), and his personal grudge ironically backfires.

Memories of Murder (2003)

This mind-boggling intricate murder mystery movie is Bong Joon-ho’s effectively crafted classic noir masterpiece laden with sarcasm and black humor. Park (Song Kang-ho) and Cho (Kim Roi-ha) are detectives digging into a string of rapes and killings of women in a Korean province. The men grow cognizant that they are in pursuit of a notorious serial killer as the plot gradually unfolds. The fact-based thriller was highly acclaimed by critics, collected numerous accolades, and was heralded as a cult hit.

A Bitter Sweet Life (2005)

Director Kim Ji-woon employs a somber visual aesthetic to deliver this dark tale. Lee Byung-hun as Sun Woo, gangster lord Kang’s (Kim Yeong-cheol) aide, is highly devoted to him. Kang appoints Sun Woo to stalk Hee Soo (Shin Min-ah), his mistress, suspected of having a fling with another man. Hell breaks loose when Kang shifts his focus to Sun Woo after the latter declines to execute Hee Soo.

The Chaser (2008)

Featuring chases and bloodshed amid a melancholy atmosphere, The Chaser is a superb illustration of the neo-noir genre. The plot revolves around a disgraced former cop who is now a pimp and is caught up in a heart-pounding pursuit of one of his prostitutes after she mysteriously disappears. With sharp light and dark contrasts and dramatic moments, the film by Na Hong-jin is sensational, iconic and widely regarded as one of the most successful South Korean films of 2008.

Gangnam Blues (2015)

Yoo Ha’s Gangnam Blues stars South Korean superstars Lee Min-ho and Kim Rae-won as the main protagonists. The film is set in the 1970s, an era of socio-political unrest and a real-estate boom in the Gangnam area. When two best friends get caught up in a scheme and there are disputes between the administration and crime syndicates, their bond is called into question. The movie earned a lot of praise for its exquisite production from different quarters.

Night in Paradise (2020)

In Park Hoon-jung’s Night in Paradise, a mobster named Park Tae-goo (Uhm Tae-goo) receives an opportunity to join the rival Bukseong gang, headed by Chairman Doh. When Park declines the offer, his sister and niece are murdered. In retribution, he brutally kills Chairman Doh and his men before escaping to Jeju Island, where he encounters Jae Yeon (Jeon Yeo-been), a dying woman. The issue is that Executive Ma, the head of the Bukseong gang, is persistently seeking Park to exact revenge.

The prestigious 77th Venice International Film Festival included a screening of Night in Paradise, which drew plaudits from critics for its explosive sequences, with Jeon Yeo-been earning praises for her gutsy, fiery performance.