Memories of Murder

Name: Memories of Murder
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Released: June 24, 2005
Duration: 132 min
Rating: 82

2005

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 17 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 200 Ratings

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8.5

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8.5	User Score Universal acclaim based on 200 Ratings

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Memories Of Murder (US Trailer 2)

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Movie Details & Credits

Palm Pictures | Release Date: June 24, 2005 | Unrated

Summary: Memories of Murder tells the harrowing true story of the hunt for a sadistic serial rapist and murderer terrorizing a small province in 1980s South Korea. Marking the first of many successful collaborations between four-time Oscar winner Bong Joon Ho and leading man Song Kang Ho, the film follows the paths of three increasingly desperateMemories of Murder tells the harrowing true story of the hunt for a sadistic serial rapist and murderer terrorizing a small province in 1980s South Korea. Marking the first of many successful collaborations between four-time Oscar winner Bong Joon Ho and leading man Song Kang Ho, the film follows the paths of three increasingly desperate detectives as they attempt to decipher the violent mind of a killer in a futile effort to solve the case. [Neon]… Expand

Director: Joon-ho Bong

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Rating: Unrated

Runtime: 132 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Linda Barnard

Powerful, unrelenting, and with excellent performances — especially from Song who is never less than outstanding — Memories of Murder is unforgettable and justifiably described as a masterpiece. Read full review

Michael Atkinson

It's an altogether remarkable piece of work, deepening the genre while whipping its skin off, satirizing an entire nation's nearsighted apathy as it wonders, almost aloud, about the nature of truth, evidence, and social belonging. Read full review

Bilge Ebiri

By the time the spellbinding and mysterious final shot rolls around, we’re left with this thought, the sad, mad truth of an authoritarian world: Nobody’s innocent, and everybody’s a victim. Read full review

Desson Thomson

As exciting for its narrative twists and turns as for its Korean textures and rhythms. Read full review

Mariko McDonald

A haunting score and beautifully atmospheric cinematography by Kim Hyung-gu round out the achievements of this unique and engaging Korean thriller. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

What distinguishes Memories of Murder, setting it apart from rank-and-file thrillers, is its singular mix of gallows humor and unnerving solemnity. Read full review

Sean Axmaker

The script is as sloppy as Song's unkempt cop, sprinkled with intriguing ideas and imaginative details that, like the investigation, simply get lost in blind alleys. Read full review

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User Reviews

Bryan

Oct 3, 2006

Tremendous!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

imdbsupport

Feb 11, 2021

Powerful, unrelenting, and with excellent performances — especially from Song who is never less than outstanding — Memories of Murder is unforgettable and justifiably described as a masterpiece.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Xan_Ryil

Dec 20, 2015

A total knockout film. A piece of art which has everything one goes to cinema for. From funny to hilarious and then dramatic, emotional, sad and finally shocked. It's a movie without any ending and the one that attaches a hook to you brain and won't let it go. From the publicity posters toA total knockout film. A piece of art which has everything one goes to cinema for. From funny to hilarious and then dramatic, emotional, sad and finally shocked. It's a movie without any ending and the one that attaches a hook to you brain and won't let it go. From the publicity posters to the editing, writing and acting this movie is a thoughtful work.
At times it would seem like reading an old novel and at times it would seem like watching a nemesis film. There are many flavors which work because of the terrific acting jobs everyone has done. Every character is a perfect fit. Both of the lead cops are opposite to each other and then the shift in their personality to take each other's place. The suspense is very strongly kept through out the movie and there is a ground breaking background score to lift it to new heights. The chase seen from the woods into the village and then the factory site is very thrilling. Another scene involving the train accident is also placed right.
There would not be any department or field this movie could be less then great at.
Kang-ho Song, is the best thing in the movie. His portrayal of an aggressive cop is top notch. He brings all the humor and then the intensity in the movie. Sang-kyung Kim, also gave wonderful performance. A cop with less known background which is civilized and honest to his job and then loses his control over the event.
A movie which will be on your favorite lift forever.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

TimC.

Aug 28, 2005

Near perfect. The way this film resonates with reality back and forth through 20 years since the first killings in 1986, is particularly poignant and rich with meloncholy and nostalgia, at least for this particular expat. The loss of innocence depicted here of the soulland of my country and Near perfect. The way this film resonates with reality back and forth through 20 years since the first killings in 1986, is particularly poignant and rich with meloncholy and nostalgia, at least for this particular expat. The loss of innocence depicted here of the soulland of my country and the maturity and groundedness of its superb dramatic telling puts this film in a very special place in my DVD collection. The meticulous and understated direction by Bong Joon Ho is a quiet marvel.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

mildepan

Jan 11, 2022

This film is very good, it deserves the prestige it has, it is entertaining, although it has a slow pace, during the film it unravels a mystery that catches us, it is not saved from the conveniences but I think that this streamlines the plot more, 8/10

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Oct 30, 2019

It's a great police thriller and I enjoy them a lot but it has many tonal problems and I really didn't like the balance.
The mixture of black humor in the darkness of it theme and social commentary is not very well driven to be honest but even so it's still a great film.
Obviously if you'reIt's a great police thriller and I enjoy them a lot but it has many tonal problems and I really didn't like the balance.
The mixture of black humor in the darkness of it theme and social commentary is not very well driven to be honest but even so it's still a great film.

Obviously if you're more accustomed to the style of thrillers in the United States and part of Europe, you may not find it so frontal but even so it never falls and I never stops being entertained.

Despite being only his second film as a director, Bong Joon Ho made it clear in that distant 2003 that both his talent and his ambition were quite big and to this day he has not disappointed.
Few directors can say the same.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

GregoryH.

Sep 8, 2005

This thing was practically unwatchable--in fact I couldn't take more than a half hour of it. Dubbed into English and peppered with cutesy tough-guy supposed cop lingo, I wish I could have just watched in in Korean with English Subtitles. The poor dubbing made the characters seem This thing was practically unwatchable--in fact I couldn't take more than a half hour of it. Dubbed into English and peppered with cutesy tough-guy supposed cop lingo, I wish I could have just watched in in Korean with English Subtitles. The poor dubbing made the characters seem laugable. The dialogue was pure vintage Starsky & Hutch-styled one guy hollering at all the other idiots and jerks, his words not mine. The critics MUST have all watched this film in its original incarnation, because no one in their right mind could heap any praise upon this butchered piece of crap.… Expand

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16	#16 Best Movie of 2005
87	#87 Most Shared Movie of 2005