As manipulative as a lot of Hollywood fodder, Bedevilled should be a sinker. That it isn't is testament to its beauty, committed performances and a fine feel for harshness, though overlong its powerful and occasionally savage stuff. We follow Hae-won, returning to her childhood home to visit old friend Bok-nam. High strung, frigid and apparently callous Hae Won isn't especially likable, but as things go on we see why she might be this way, for the small island where she grew up is a pretty terrible place. Her reunion may be sweet, but Bok-nam is in a bad situation, and things are building to a head
The plot summary on this page tells more than is strictly needed about the skimpy plot of this one, it's predictable stuff but I still recommend not knowing to much beforehand, all the better to get emotionally wrecked. Director Jang Cheol-so plays the audience like an instrument, highlighting the natural beauty of the location to better emphasise the nastiness, keeping the harsher moments just enough in the frame to be viciously effective but keeping the worst of it just out of view, conjuring jangling tension and a dash of sinister sexual menace, its taut stuff building effectively with tar black humour in its climatic release. Ji Sung-wong puts on a decent if distant show as Hae-won, implacable to the point of being a frustration, while Seo Yeong-hee is the more attractive as Bok-nam, lively façade in desperate conflict with her terrible treatment, a pleasant soul who doesn't want to face things but wrenched to a place where she can't hide. The notion of denial and the need to face up to things is what underlies events, unsubtly presented perhaps but a worthy message presented in jolting style, fortunately the film works as grim drama. There are problems though, none of the villains of the piece are well rounded, from crudely brutal and sex hungry men to cruel old ladies revelling in the status quo, everyone is so hissable that things are in constant danger of being overdone, and indeed sometimes are. Documented cases of similar isolated communities show that there is a bleak truthfulness to the pattern of events, but the characters of the villains generally lack psychological truth, hence they become less effective. The other trouble here is that the film draws out its finale with more climaxes than necessary, it doesn't lack for exciting or interesting events in its final stages but it becomes bumpy and feels overlong, it also hammers home the less subtle aspects of the film. Still, all in all this one had the required effect for me, I was gripped, appalled, dazzled and saddened, a veritable emotional roller-coaster. Worth a look for slow burning dark drama fans then, but be warned that things are a bit obvious.
81 Reviews
Island of human brutes.
HumanoidOfFlesh11 February 2011
"Bedevilled" is the tale of two women.Hae-won is depressed by her empty corporate financial job.Close to an emotional break-down she decides to visit her childhood friend Bok-nam who is living on the tiny islet of Mundo.Bok-nam is often abused by her violent husband and his retarded brother.Finally this horribly victimised human being decides to retaliate against her tormentors."Bedevilled" is slow-moving and depressing drama that suddenly turns into bloody revenge movie.The cast is strong,especially Seo Young-hee gives a truly memorable performance as bullied Bok-nam.Consumed by growing anger she becomes a beast.The script is horrific with several scenes of sexual and verbal abuse and plenty of bloody violence.Very brutal pay-off has to be seen to be believed.Check out this savagely beautiful drama.8 islets out of 10.
Island of (very) slow-brooding vengeance
Coventry25 April 2011
This film, of which the international title "Bedevilled" is a lot easier to remember than the original South Korean one, and its director Cheol- Soo Jang seemingly appeared out of nowhere but nevertheless left quite an impression at several internationally acclaimed film festivals around the world. Perhaps this is simply because the director is an acolyte of Kim Ki-Duk, or perhaps it's because he actually delivered a unique and hard-to-categorize motion picture that spooks through your head long after you finished seeing it. Throughout approximately 75 minutes (three quarters of the full running time), "Bedevilled" is a very slow and harrowing drama focusing on the life of one poor woman. Then suddenly, almost when you totally don't expect it anymore, the film converts into a harsh and downright savage tale of revenge and oppressed anger. The sudden transition is abrupt and shocking, but also strangely justified and efficient. One moment you're witnessing the "Via Dolorosa" of a seemingly timid and vulnerable young woman, yet the next moment this timid and vulnerable young woman is coloring the entire island blood red with a primitive sickle.
The story opens in modern day Seoul, where the egocentric and obnoxious Hae-Won is close to reaching an emotional and professional burnout. She goes on a vacation to Moodo, the island where she spent her childhood holidays with her friend Kim Bok-Nam. Kim Bok-Nam is very happy to see Hae-Won, because she thinks her friend has come to save her and her daughter, like she begged her to in all those letters. Kim Bok-Nam's life is worse than that of a slave. She's abused and humiliated by her husband and the rest of the island's population, both male and female. Another long series of events, including the disinterested reaction of her friend, slowly lead to a gigantic tragedy.
The first three quarters of "Bedevilled" may come across and dull and eventful – especially when shown at 2am on a Saturday morning in a theater full of horror junkies – but the slow pace and melodramatic atmosphere are fundamental for the film. Cheol-Soo Jang carefully takes his time to illustrate that Moodo truly is a very isolated setting, completely devoid of legislation and social evolution. The elderly intimidate the younger and the men dominate the women, probably just like the generations before them did as well. Kim Bok-Nam endured as much anger and agony as humanly possible, and this is painfully illustrated in great detail during the film's long awakening. I've rarely seen a cinematic character who's vengeance is so legitimatized and substantiated. My hat's off to debuting director Cheol-Soo Jang, scriptwriter Kwang-young Choi and lead actress Yeong-Hie Seo. Furthermore, "Bedevilled" benefices from the truly breathtaking island filming locations and staggering photography. Don't know if it's true, but I read somewhere that the location was selected out of nearly 3.000 islands surrounding the South Korean shore. The selection was based on size, nature and available facilities. Great choice, I'd say. Faint- hearted viewers beware, however, as the extended finale features a large number of grim and shocking images.
The story opens in modern day Seoul, where the egocentric and obnoxious Hae-Won is close to reaching an emotional and professional burnout. She goes on a vacation to Moodo, the island where she spent her childhood holidays with her friend Kim Bok-Nam. Kim Bok-Nam is very happy to see Hae-Won, because she thinks her friend has come to save her and her daughter, like she begged her to in all those letters. Kim Bok-Nam's life is worse than that of a slave. She's abused and humiliated by her husband and the rest of the island's population, both male and female. Another long series of events, including the disinterested reaction of her friend, slowly lead to a gigantic tragedy.
The first three quarters of "Bedevilled" may come across and dull and eventful – especially when shown at 2am on a Saturday morning in a theater full of horror junkies – but the slow pace and melodramatic atmosphere are fundamental for the film. Cheol-Soo Jang carefully takes his time to illustrate that Moodo truly is a very isolated setting, completely devoid of legislation and social evolution. The elderly intimidate the younger and the men dominate the women, probably just like the generations before them did as well. Kim Bok-Nam endured as much anger and agony as humanly possible, and this is painfully illustrated in great detail during the film's long awakening. I've rarely seen a cinematic character who's vengeance is so legitimatized and substantiated. My hat's off to debuting director Cheol-Soo Jang, scriptwriter Kwang-young Choi and lead actress Yeong-Hie Seo. Furthermore, "Bedevilled" benefices from the truly breathtaking island filming locations and staggering photography. Don't know if it's true, but I read somewhere that the location was selected out of nearly 3.000 islands surrounding the South Korean shore. The selection was based on size, nature and available facilities. Great choice, I'd say. Faint- hearted viewers beware, however, as the extended finale features a large number of grim and shocking images.
Brutal, violent, depressing - but compelling - one woman revolution.
oneguyrambling20 April 2012
After last night Moo-Do island in South Korea has rocketed to the very top of my 'bad places to live' list, though I guess not so much if you're a guy.
Hae-Won is a beautiful young woman living the city life in Seoul. After a particularly bad day it is 'suggested' that she take some leave to recharge her batteries and regain some perspective. This break sees her leave the mainland for the aforementioned Moo-Do island – her childhood home – and a place seemingly unchanged since her departure at a young age.
Inertia isn't always a good thing, but initially this is a boon for Hae-Won, her trendy haircut, high heels and pale skin (not darkened by spending countless hours working outdoors) make her a minor celeb to the small number of residents still living on the island. While none of this small number are her direct family Hae-Won tentatively bonds with Bok-Nam, whom she recalls vaguely from her childhood, and Bok-Nam's young pre-teen daughter Yeon-Hee finds Hae-Won fascinating, having not seen anyone quite like her.
Right. Fun's over folks. Be under no delusion. This is NOT a happy film, and I have seen nothing like it for a very long time Moo-Do island is a serene and beautiful locale, remote, sparsely populated and peaceful. However there remains a distinct caste system that harks back to the dark ages.
On Moo-Do island women inhabit the very bottom rung of the totem pole, this is not a nasty secret but essentially common knowledge. They work harder and are given the most thankless tasks, are treated with nary a modicum of respect or even common decency, and where 'release' is concerned they are expected to be prepared and willing at all times.
It seems the women understand that it is what it is, especially the older women who no doubt had to deal with it during their younger years, but the problem is that with only a single digit population there are only two females who appear to be under 50, Bok-Nam and her daughter.
Hae-Won knows nothing of this initially, and she is bemused but ultimately a little annoyed by the cloying attention of Bok-Nam in the days following her arrival. Gradually though they both come to realise how the other truly lives Unfortunately we the viewers are granted a far clearer and more depressing picture of what Bok-Nam deals with on the day to day, to label the local male population as South Korean rednecks might just be a disservice to regular rednecks. In fact I wondered for a while if the only truly apt description might just be the one word I have refrained from using on this site. I might also point out that some of the older women are hardly better examples of humanity, one in particular is especially vile and loathsome, with her continued verbal beatdowns of Bok-Nam becoming worse by the day.
But back to the island of don't ask, don't tell. The looming cloud of inevitability closes in on the two childhood friends, with Bok-Nam seeing Hae-Won as a potential saviour, but Hae-Won rapidly realising that she might just need to be equally concerned for herself.
And as horrible as this all is it gets worse when they go and start implying that the young girl Yeon-Hee is at risk.
While I have seen some repugnant and disturbing behaviour on film in my many decades of devouring cinema, I can't recall another occasion where I have been so disgusted and bothered by the actions of fictional characters. The equally depressing fact is that this queasiness and unease is a direct result of the plausibility of the film, meaning the film is effective and well made. (I hardly fluttered an eyelid at the ridiculous crap that plays out in the Hostel films and their ilk.) The key to a good revenge film is making sure that there is something worthy of (usually violent) reprisal. All I can say is that there have been precious few revenge films with reasons as valid and 'worthy' as this one. Might I also say that there haven't been many films where the acts of revenge more than made up for the transgressions. There is a long and deliberate 'sharpening' scene that acts as a prelude to the payoff that is one of bloodiest I can recall, yet for a while I actually shared the blood-lust ('Yeah, now get that one next!'). At least in principal.
But as with every good freak-out the danger is that things can go too far, and that is indeed the case here near the conclusion of the film, let's just say I never thought the phrase 'Put some bean paste on it' could mean something so very extreme.
Bedevilled is one of the more legitimately disturbing films that I have ever seen, and I am not just referring to the graphic violence. It unfolds gradually and the sheer scope of the situation is allowed to seep into your consciousness before you suddenly become aware that there can only be one way that this film will – no MUST – end. Unlike your Saw films and even more traditional revenge flicks like Death Sentence the violence is less sick than it is sad, mainly because in the real world you really hope that there are no places where such subjugation and blatant mistreatment of people exist, though the whole while knowing full well that they most certainly do.
Final Rating – 7.5 / 10. This film will definitely not make your day enjoyable, but it might open your eyes a little to the fact that you haven't got it that bad.
Hae-Won is a beautiful young woman living the city life in Seoul. After a particularly bad day it is 'suggested' that she take some leave to recharge her batteries and regain some perspective. This break sees her leave the mainland for the aforementioned Moo-Do island – her childhood home – and a place seemingly unchanged since her departure at a young age.
Inertia isn't always a good thing, but initially this is a boon for Hae-Won, her trendy haircut, high heels and pale skin (not darkened by spending countless hours working outdoors) make her a minor celeb to the small number of residents still living on the island. While none of this small number are her direct family Hae-Won tentatively bonds with Bok-Nam, whom she recalls vaguely from her childhood, and Bok-Nam's young pre-teen daughter Yeon-Hee finds Hae-Won fascinating, having not seen anyone quite like her.
Right. Fun's over folks. Be under no delusion. This is NOT a happy film, and I have seen nothing like it for a very long time Moo-Do island is a serene and beautiful locale, remote, sparsely populated and peaceful. However there remains a distinct caste system that harks back to the dark ages.
On Moo-Do island women inhabit the very bottom rung of the totem pole, this is not a nasty secret but essentially common knowledge. They work harder and are given the most thankless tasks, are treated with nary a modicum of respect or even common decency, and where 'release' is concerned they are expected to be prepared and willing at all times.
It seems the women understand that it is what it is, especially the older women who no doubt had to deal with it during their younger years, but the problem is that with only a single digit population there are only two females who appear to be under 50, Bok-Nam and her daughter.
Hae-Won knows nothing of this initially, and she is bemused but ultimately a little annoyed by the cloying attention of Bok-Nam in the days following her arrival. Gradually though they both come to realise how the other truly lives Unfortunately we the viewers are granted a far clearer and more depressing picture of what Bok-Nam deals with on the day to day, to label the local male population as South Korean rednecks might just be a disservice to regular rednecks. In fact I wondered for a while if the only truly apt description might just be the one word I have refrained from using on this site. I might also point out that some of the older women are hardly better examples of humanity, one in particular is especially vile and loathsome, with her continued verbal beatdowns of Bok-Nam becoming worse by the day.
But back to the island of don't ask, don't tell. The looming cloud of inevitability closes in on the two childhood friends, with Bok-Nam seeing Hae-Won as a potential saviour, but Hae-Won rapidly realising that she might just need to be equally concerned for herself.
And as horrible as this all is it gets worse when they go and start implying that the young girl Yeon-Hee is at risk.
While I have seen some repugnant and disturbing behaviour on film in my many decades of devouring cinema, I can't recall another occasion where I have been so disgusted and bothered by the actions of fictional characters. The equally depressing fact is that this queasiness and unease is a direct result of the plausibility of the film, meaning the film is effective and well made. (I hardly fluttered an eyelid at the ridiculous crap that plays out in the Hostel films and their ilk.) The key to a good revenge film is making sure that there is something worthy of (usually violent) reprisal. All I can say is that there have been precious few revenge films with reasons as valid and 'worthy' as this one. Might I also say that there haven't been many films where the acts of revenge more than made up for the transgressions. There is a long and deliberate 'sharpening' scene that acts as a prelude to the payoff that is one of bloodiest I can recall, yet for a while I actually shared the blood-lust ('Yeah, now get that one next!'). At least in principal.
But as with every good freak-out the danger is that things can go too far, and that is indeed the case here near the conclusion of the film, let's just say I never thought the phrase 'Put some bean paste on it' could mean something so very extreme.
Bedevilled is one of the more legitimately disturbing films that I have ever seen, and I am not just referring to the graphic violence. It unfolds gradually and the sheer scope of the situation is allowed to seep into your consciousness before you suddenly become aware that there can only be one way that this film will – no MUST – end. Unlike your Saw films and even more traditional revenge flicks like Death Sentence the violence is less sick than it is sad, mainly because in the real world you really hope that there are no places where such subjugation and blatant mistreatment of people exist, though the whole while knowing full well that they most certainly do.
Final Rating – 7.5 / 10. This film will definitely not make your day enjoyable, but it might open your eyes a little to the fact that you haven't got it that bad.
Another masterpiece of a unique genre coming from a unique country
kluseba21 June 2011
"Bedevilled" is another and once again brilliant tale of revenge coming from South Korea which is in the vein of already now legendary masterpieces such as "Oldboy" and "I saw the devil".
What distinguishes this movie from the other ones and justifies itself to merit a place in the top notch of this genre can be told in three little points. First of all, this movie tells the tale of revenge from the point of view from a person that is neither the central evil nor the central avenger part of the movie. Thanks to many flashbacks and secondary story lines, the culpability and responsibility of the main actress is though revealed all over the movie and gives us philosophical and introspective insights while the person witnesses a tale of revenge.
Second, the movie takes its time to introduce all the important characters very slowly. This develops a dark empathy with the main victim that is treated and slowly becomes a monster. The movie creates cruel and gripping personalities and shows us the degree of culpability for all of them. The acting in this intense but slow paced movie is very well done and authentic and it's a very positive and refreshing aspect that the true revenge tale only kicks off after more than the half of the movie has already passed.
Third, this movie focuses especially on the relationship between the avenger and the person that introduces slowly us to the main story line. It's the first time I see two equally convincing female characters in this kind of tough, cruel and highly emotive roles in this kind of genre and they have done such excellent jobs that I'm looking forward to have a closer look at their filmographies.
As a fourth very positive point I might finally add that this movie is also intriguing because it takes places on an isolated island and is a huge criticism towards past and contemporary society in South Korea. This movie is much more than just a bloody tale of revenge, at first glimpse it's especially a very intense drama with gripping characters.
In the end, I highly suggest anyone that likes South Korean movies to watch out for this film that has only recently been released in North America. This is another masterpiece of a unique genre coming from a unique country and you won't find this kind of high quality in any cinema or contemporary American blockbuster. South Korea is the best place for original, gripping and extreme contemporary movies and this movie underlines the country's unique status and will hopefully inspire our culture to take some inspirations from them without dishonouring their creative pieces of art.
What distinguishes this movie from the other ones and justifies itself to merit a place in the top notch of this genre can be told in three little points. First of all, this movie tells the tale of revenge from the point of view from a person that is neither the central evil nor the central avenger part of the movie. Thanks to many flashbacks and secondary story lines, the culpability and responsibility of the main actress is though revealed all over the movie and gives us philosophical and introspective insights while the person witnesses a tale of revenge.
Second, the movie takes its time to introduce all the important characters very slowly. This develops a dark empathy with the main victim that is treated and slowly becomes a monster. The movie creates cruel and gripping personalities and shows us the degree of culpability for all of them. The acting in this intense but slow paced movie is very well done and authentic and it's a very positive and refreshing aspect that the true revenge tale only kicks off after more than the half of the movie has already passed.
Third, this movie focuses especially on the relationship between the avenger and the person that introduces slowly us to the main story line. It's the first time I see two equally convincing female characters in this kind of tough, cruel and highly emotive roles in this kind of genre and they have done such excellent jobs that I'm looking forward to have a closer look at their filmographies.
As a fourth very positive point I might finally add that this movie is also intriguing because it takes places on an isolated island and is a huge criticism towards past and contemporary society in South Korea. This movie is much more than just a bloody tale of revenge, at first glimpse it's especially a very intense drama with gripping characters.
In the end, I highly suggest anyone that likes South Korean movies to watch out for this film that has only recently been released in North America. This is another masterpiece of a unique genre coming from a unique country and you won't find this kind of high quality in any cinema or contemporary American blockbuster. South Korea is the best place for original, gripping and extreme contemporary movies and this movie underlines the country's unique status and will hopefully inspire our culture to take some inspirations from them without dishonouring their creative pieces of art.
Redemption
mario_c2 March 2011
This movie crosses the borders of Drama and Horror with an intense story of a young woman who is mistreated and almost slaved by her husband and the rest of the (few) people who live in a small island near the mainland, in South Korea. However the movie doesn't really start with this character but with another girl who lived in that island when she was a child but now lives in Seoul and is a "modern woman" in opposition to the people of the isle who live like farmers. The plot begins when this second girl after some problems in Seoul decides to take a rest and visit the isle. Is in that moment we met the girl who is mistreated and the paths of these two women cross again like in the past
It's a crossed story about friendship, about courage, vengeance and redemption. The movie is intense mostly on the psychological side and shows us that when one person is mistreated to the edge can one day search for revenge! I appreciated the end and its message of redemption.
It's a crossed story about friendship, about courage, vengeance and redemption. The movie is intense mostly on the psychological side and shows us that when one person is mistreated to the edge can one day search for revenge! I appreciated the end and its message of redemption.
Wherever you go ...
kosmasp15 November 2010
It is difficult to describe the movie. Actually to describe what is attractive and/or exciting about the movie for me. You could say that it begins more than slow, but will build up and be very disturbing toward the end. I'm not gonna give anything away from the story, but if you have seen some Korean movies, you might know what you are getting yourself into here!
It is sort of a character study and a very weird and dark social commentary to (if you want it to be). I liked the group dynamic, I liked the grey tones, I liked that it was different. I can't guarantee though that you will like it. And it might not be the ideal choice to start getting to know Korean cinema. I'm sure though that somewhere along the line, there is an US Remake waiting to happen (if they can pull it off ... they don't seem to be able to do so with Old Boy either).
It is sort of a character study and a very weird and dark social commentary to (if you want it to be). I liked the group dynamic, I liked the grey tones, I liked that it was different. I can't guarantee though that you will like it. And it might not be the ideal choice to start getting to know Korean cinema. I'm sure though that somewhere along the line, there is an US Remake waiting to happen (if they can pull it off ... they don't seem to be able to do so with Old Boy either).
Apathy is not the answer
CuriosityKilledShawn1 October 2013
Warning: Spoilers
The bystander effect: choosing to do nothing when someone you can help is clearly suffering - a thing that, sadly, most will do out of fear for their own safety. Selfishness is a mental condition.
Hae-won is an apathetic bank teller who feels nothing for anyone around her, especially if they are lower down on the social hierarchy. After witnessing a brutal beating in the street she takes off to the quiet island of Mudo where she once spent time with her grandparents as a kid. There she meets with old 'friend' Bok-nam and tries to relax. Any decent person wouldn't be able to relax around the island who brutally beat, degrade, and humiliate Bok-nam on a minute-by-minute basic. Hae-won just turns a blind eye to it, but her old friend is about to be pushed past her limits and seek very bloody retribution.
Happy endings are not in the future for anyone in this movie, but strangely, there is no real sense of hopelessness. Bok-nam is a character who eventually takes charge of her misery and despair, while Hae-won merely lets bad things happen. There is a fine line between fighting for your life and choosing apathy. The future depends on how much you care about it, for yourself and for others.
Despite the gloom, it is a very well shot movie with lots of gorgeous shots of the island and blue sky (and the red blood soaking into the mud). However, I would not watch this movie if you are in the mood for something light and fun. It will depress you, a lot.
Hae-won is an apathetic bank teller who feels nothing for anyone around her, especially if they are lower down on the social hierarchy. After witnessing a brutal beating in the street she takes off to the quiet island of Mudo where she once spent time with her grandparents as a kid. There she meets with old 'friend' Bok-nam and tries to relax. Any decent person wouldn't be able to relax around the island who brutally beat, degrade, and humiliate Bok-nam on a minute-by-minute basic. Hae-won just turns a blind eye to it, but her old friend is about to be pushed past her limits and seek very bloody retribution.
Happy endings are not in the future for anyone in this movie, but strangely, there is no real sense of hopelessness. Bok-nam is a character who eventually takes charge of her misery and despair, while Hae-won merely lets bad things happen. There is a fine line between fighting for your life and choosing apathy. The future depends on how much you care about it, for yourself and for others.
Despite the gloom, it is a very well shot movie with lots of gorgeous shots of the island and blue sky (and the red blood soaking into the mud). However, I would not watch this movie if you are in the mood for something light and fun. It will depress you, a lot.
Slow-burn hell hath wrath masterpiece
SonOfSalem20 August 2011
Some movies ask of your time like others seldom dare to try. These are the most rewarding, in my opinion, because, having allowed ourselves to be so absorbed and entrenched in their sagas, our empathic connection with their characters can almost make us feel like we are intertwined and we can come away feeling enriched for having shared our time with them. I felt this when I watched "The Pianist" and "The Deer Hunter". And I felt this when I watched "Bedeviled"
The English definitions of the word bedeviled are many, but prone to obvious seething similarity; (to worry, annoy, or frustrate, to torment mercilessly, plague, to possess with or as if with a devil, bewitch) every one of these are but glimpses into what awaits the viewer in "Bedeviled." What I found most disturbing of all for myself, was that I was cheering for the character possessed of them. You'll understand... or you might not. But some people deserve whats coming to them, in this world, or the hell they have dutifully manufactured in the next, no matter how they cloak themselves to appear like they don't stink of the blood they have washed themselves in.
The character Bok-Nam is a terrifying study of a fracturing psyche. And for her tormentors on the island, hell hath no fury like the storm that is raging towards them.
The Korean title of this movie is: Kim Bok-nam Salinsageonui Jeonmal; which translates to: The Whole Story of Kim Bok-nam's Murder Case. Soe Yeong Hie (Bok-nam) won best actress at the Korean movie awards and the movie itself won best screenplay.
-{ A great percentage of the best horror movies are foreign. Don't be afraid of them! }-
The English definitions of the word bedeviled are many, but prone to obvious seething similarity; (to worry, annoy, or frustrate, to torment mercilessly, plague, to possess with or as if with a devil, bewitch) every one of these are but glimpses into what awaits the viewer in "Bedeviled." What I found most disturbing of all for myself, was that I was cheering for the character possessed of them. You'll understand... or you might not. But some people deserve whats coming to them, in this world, or the hell they have dutifully manufactured in the next, no matter how they cloak themselves to appear like they don't stink of the blood they have washed themselves in.
The character Bok-Nam is a terrifying study of a fracturing psyche. And for her tormentors on the island, hell hath no fury like the storm that is raging towards them.
The Korean title of this movie is: Kim Bok-nam Salinsageonui Jeonmal; which translates to: The Whole Story of Kim Bok-nam's Murder Case. Soe Yeong Hie (Bok-nam) won best actress at the Korean movie awards and the movie itself won best screenplay.
-{ A great percentage of the best horror movies are foreign. Don't be afraid of them! }-
Very well made Korean thriller/horror with elements of revenge
KineticSeoul22 February 2011
Warning: Spoilers
The story starts out with a city girl from Seoul and is rotten to the core and self-centered, in fact a lot of the characters in this movie is like this some more than others. But the main protagonist is a village girl who doesn't know much about modern times and was stuck on a island far from the city areas of Korea called called Moo-do. Anyways the main city girl in this is probably the most irritating character to watch in this film especially when the movie comes close to the end, she actually portrays how rotten humanity can be. In fact I wouldn't be shocked if it's the majority of people in real life. I personally like these types of movies kinda like "Moss" where it takes place in a desolated place and there is a mystery behind it. This film has some graphic scenes some even really messed and to that I am not talking about the violence. The villains in this island is basically rednecks of Korea and I really hated them all with a passion. Seeing the village girl who has lived on the miserable island for 30 yrs being mistreated and abused emotionally, mentally and physically while being treated as a slave, fueled the anger level even more. And was rooting for her to get her revenge. Especially when it came to that one guy who is uber messed up in the head. The grannies, old people are known to be uptight but most audiences like me will hate them with a passion. Actually almost the whole village. This really is a compelling story that isn't just all about the violence and the climaxes are well done in this. The main negative aspect is how this movie goes in a pretty predictable direction, especially if you seen the trailer. Although it has a few twist than and there. This is a horror/thriller that is interwoven very well when it comes to the end and is worth the time to see it.
7.6/10
7.6/10
Slow but one of the most compelling movies in recent times
amoolya0055 July 2011
First things first.. I really don't know whether the people from the West who aren't that familiar with Asian culture, that too the rural culture would really relate well to this movie. But I think it's one of the most interesting movies I've ever seen, to be frank. I've seen the rural life in India and kinda lived it a bit too and I was kinda really surprised by the similarity that I could find in this movie, be it regarding the gender bias or the illiteracy thing or the domestic violence that illiterate women have to tolerate and just live as if they are born to bear that kind of treatment from sadistic husbands.
As much as I was amazed from the similarity that I could find, I was spellbound by the kind of story telling that this movie was. You would never feel bored although the story goes at a very slow pace, although towards the end it gets to your nerves. The acting by every one of them is appreciable as you never feel that they are really just playing the character in the movie.
I've been watching Korean movies for a while now and have become a big fan of them since, and I certainly think this's one of the best among them. For those who have watched 'Oldboy' or 'I Saw the Devil', you would know what's the kind of gory it would reach. It's truly "Korean", in every way.
If you are a K-movie fan then you would certainly love this one! This one is going into 'My Collection'!
As much as I was amazed from the similarity that I could find, I was spellbound by the kind of story telling that this movie was. You would never feel bored although the story goes at a very slow pace, although towards the end it gets to your nerves. The acting by every one of them is appreciable as you never feel that they are really just playing the character in the movie.
I've been watching Korean movies for a while now and have become a big fan of them since, and I certainly think this's one of the best among them. For those who have watched 'Oldboy' or 'I Saw the Devil', you would know what's the kind of gory it would reach. It's truly "Korean", in every way.
If you are a K-movie fan then you would certainly love this one! This one is going into 'My Collection'!
A beautifully shot and acted, but frustrating movie filled with terrible human beings
Lou_Chou4 March 2018
Well shot, and equally well acted, but front to back every character in this movie is just a horrible person, and left me tired and frustrated rather than anxiously involved. Even the heroine/protagonist (I'm assuming that's what she is?) was so relentlessly neglectful and wilfully dense that when her eventual payoff comes around it didn't feel as gratifying as it perhaps should.
I have plenty of time for harrowing movies, but this lacked cadence. Even just an extra character there with some semblance of positivity and emotional wherewithal to provide a little relief from the blanket of inhumanity that this thing throws over you would have sufficed.
I can certainly see why people here are raving about it, but for me a movie needs more balance to be as affective as this attempts to be.
I have plenty of time for harrowing movies, but this lacked cadence. Even just an extra character there with some semblance of positivity and emotional wherewithal to provide a little relief from the blanket of inhumanity that this thing throws over you would have sufficed.
I can certainly see why people here are raving about it, but for me a movie needs more balance to be as affective as this attempts to be.
Korean revenge
moviefansme1 March 2015
Revenge flick with a bittersweet twist, perhaps remarkable for South Korean cinema but fairly average by US/Hollywood standards. It's a crime/drama/thriller; although it depicts some rather gruesome murders, it's not horror.
The story starts with the lead character being Hae-won, a beautiful woman from the big city who returns to the remote fishing island where she used to visit her grandfather. There she reconnects with Bok-nam, a childhood friend who has lived on the island her whole life. The story quickly refocuses on Bok-nam and the oppressive living conditions she's forced into by the handful of villagers still living on the island. Since childhood, Bok-nam has pleaded with Hae-won to take her away from this place, but rather than help, Hae-won looks the other way.
Like a revenge film, the tables turn halfway through the story. This movie is long, taking a long time to set up how Bok-nam suffers and how Hae-won ignores it. At the turning point, the story could go in a couple of directions, but chooses the most conventional one. The editing is somewhat hard to follow, often making me wonder if I'd missed a scene but later realizing that perhaps not.
Not a bad film, decently done, but average.
The story starts with the lead character being Hae-won, a beautiful woman from the big city who returns to the remote fishing island where she used to visit her grandfather. There she reconnects with Bok-nam, a childhood friend who has lived on the island her whole life. The story quickly refocuses on Bok-nam and the oppressive living conditions she's forced into by the handful of villagers still living on the island. Since childhood, Bok-nam has pleaded with Hae-won to take her away from this place, but rather than help, Hae-won looks the other way.
Like a revenge film, the tables turn halfway through the story. This movie is long, taking a long time to set up how Bok-nam suffers and how Hae-won ignores it. At the turning point, the story could go in a couple of directions, but chooses the most conventional one. The editing is somewhat hard to follow, often making me wonder if I'd missed a scene but later realizing that perhaps not.
Not a bad film, decently done, but average.
Another Revenge-Thriller From the Cinema That Does It Best.
CinemaClown27 February 2014
Another revenge-thriller from the cinema industry that now has an unprecedented mastery at it, Bedevilled is the tale of two women who grew up on a desolate island as friends but separated when one of them moved to the city. The film primarily concerns Bok-nam; the one who stayed back & who faces abuse from her husband to everyone on a daily basis but still endures everything for her daughter, whom she cares about most. But when a deadly tragedy occurs, she lets out all her anger & frustration that has built over years of abuse to exact revenge on everyone in an extremely violent manner.
For a debut effort, the director has done a fine job with more rights than wrong, the plot is a bit thin & progresses itself through shock value only which is present in abundance in the second half of the film, the technical crew also does its job pretty well but it's Seo Young-hee who impresses the most as Bok-nam. She puts up an absolute raw, maddening display of miserable life & yet makes the audience feel sympathetic towards her. Next best is Ji Sung-won as Hae-won, who returns to the island after many years without knowing what devilry awaits her.
On an overall scale, Bedevilled may suffer from many flaws which are too hard to ignore & mostly relies on its disturbing or violent content to reach out to the fans of its genre but it also shows the beast within all of us that's feeding on anger & frustrations, is waiting to be let out & sometimes does in a way that's beyond our control. The film works as an unforgiving thriller to a considerable extent but in its third act turns into a nightmarish horror thanks to a woman gone crazy with a sickle in her hand. Watch it at your own risk.
For a debut effort, the director has done a fine job with more rights than wrong, the plot is a bit thin & progresses itself through shock value only which is present in abundance in the second half of the film, the technical crew also does its job pretty well but it's Seo Young-hee who impresses the most as Bok-nam. She puts up an absolute raw, maddening display of miserable life & yet makes the audience feel sympathetic towards her. Next best is Ji Sung-won as Hae-won, who returns to the island after many years without knowing what devilry awaits her.
On an overall scale, Bedevilled may suffer from many flaws which are too hard to ignore & mostly relies on its disturbing or violent content to reach out to the fans of its genre but it also shows the beast within all of us that's feeding on anger & frustrations, is waiting to be let out & sometimes does in a way that's beyond our control. The film works as an unforgiving thriller to a considerable extent but in its third act turns into a nightmarish horror thanks to a woman gone crazy with a sickle in her hand. Watch it at your own risk.
underrated, if overdone gender thriller
Radu_A21 May 2011
First of all, don't read anything about the story's content - it may ruin the experience for you.
What do the gender-themed Hollywood thrillers "Basic Instinct", "Fatal Attraction" and "Disclosure" have in common? 1. they all star Michael Douglas, 2. the female lead is the root of all evil. Whenever Hollywood takes gender struggle to bloody extremes, there's an irritating tendency to overly sympathize with the male - probably because the film industry is still pretty much a man's world, with the first female director winning an Academy Award coming around only last year.
In that light, "Bedevilled" - from an equally male-dominated media environment - is a different, surprising film which manages to convey a social message while delivering gruesome - and at times gory - entertainment. What we have here is a social drama/ slasher crossover with excellent production values and top-notch cinematography.
No wonder that the story often feels grossly exaggerated. The entertainment values somewhat linger in the background of an ever-growing tension in the first hour, and then dominate the finale. Therefore the psychological premise - unusually well-established for a mere shocker - appears constructed in the course of the ensuing rampage. Those who expect horror, however, may feel somewhat bored during the exposition, simply because it's so much better and less formulaic than usual for genre movies.
"Bedevilled" is a brilliant piece of entertainment if judged for what it is trying to achieve, pretty much on a par with the testosterone-driven "I saw the Devil". But it's not trying to please as much as the latter. So if you're looking for new angles on old formulas, this one is for you; if you'd rather have a good idea about what you're going to see, you may feel confused.
What do the gender-themed Hollywood thrillers "Basic Instinct", "Fatal Attraction" and "Disclosure" have in common? 1. they all star Michael Douglas, 2. the female lead is the root of all evil. Whenever Hollywood takes gender struggle to bloody extremes, there's an irritating tendency to overly sympathize with the male - probably because the film industry is still pretty much a man's world, with the first female director winning an Academy Award coming around only last year.
In that light, "Bedevilled" - from an equally male-dominated media environment - is a different, surprising film which manages to convey a social message while delivering gruesome - and at times gory - entertainment. What we have here is a social drama/ slasher crossover with excellent production values and top-notch cinematography.
No wonder that the story often feels grossly exaggerated. The entertainment values somewhat linger in the background of an ever-growing tension in the first hour, and then dominate the finale. Therefore the psychological premise - unusually well-established for a mere shocker - appears constructed in the course of the ensuing rampage. Those who expect horror, however, may feel somewhat bored during the exposition, simply because it's so much better and less formulaic than usual for genre movies.
"Bedevilled" is a brilliant piece of entertainment if judged for what it is trying to achieve, pretty much on a par with the testosterone-driven "I saw the Devil". But it's not trying to please as much as the latter. So if you're looking for new angles on old formulas, this one is for you; if you'd rather have a good idea about what you're going to see, you may feel confused.
Careful with that sickle, Bok-nam.
BA_Harrison13 November 2016
After self-absorbed Seoul bank worker Hae-won (Seong-won Ji) is ordered to take some time off work due to stress, she decides to visit the remote island of Moo-do, where she spent time as a child with her grandfather. There, she rekindles her friendship with her childhood friend Kim Bok-nam (Yeong-hie Seo), but discovers that the rest of the islanders treat the woman like a slave, abusing her mentally, physically and sexually. Hae-won's apathy regarding the situation ultimately leads to tragedy
Korean revenge drama Bedevilled requires much patience from the viewer, the story building steadily and slowly, the abuse and degradation Bok-nam endures, not just from her husband but also the other women on the island, very gradually pushing her closer and closer to the edge of sanity. It's not a question of whether she will crack, but when, so hang on in there: when she finally flips (after the death of her daughter at the hands of her husband), revenge has never been sweeter, Bok-nam going to town with a sharp farming implement, hacking and slashing her way through all those who have tormented her.
Brooding direction from Cheol-soo Jang, marvellous performances all round, and stunning cinematography all go to make this a very satisfying experience, but best of all is the visceral violence that is dished out by the severely miffed Bok-nam to her deserving victims, all that practice with the sickle digging up potatoes not going to waste.
Korean revenge drama Bedevilled requires much patience from the viewer, the story building steadily and slowly, the abuse and degradation Bok-nam endures, not just from her husband but also the other women on the island, very gradually pushing her closer and closer to the edge of sanity. It's not a question of whether she will crack, but when, so hang on in there: when she finally flips (after the death of her daughter at the hands of her husband), revenge has never been sweeter, Bok-nam going to town with a sharp farming implement, hacking and slashing her way through all those who have tormented her.
Brooding direction from Cheol-soo Jang, marvellous performances all round, and stunning cinematography all go to make this a very satisfying experience, but best of all is the visceral violence that is dished out by the severely miffed Bok-nam to her deserving victims, all that practice with the sickle digging up potatoes not going to waste.
Another Great Korean Film
claudio_carvalho13 May 2016
In Seoul, the thirty and something year-old bank clerk Hae-Won (Seong- won Ji) is a heartless and selfish single woman that tramples on coworkers and clients. He boss orders her to take vacation since she is stressed and Hae-Won decides to spend a week on her grandfather's hometown in the primitive and tiny Moodo Island. She is welcomed by her childhood friend Kim Bok-nam (Yeong-hie Seo) that lives in the island and treats Hae-Won with great affection. Bok-nam is an abused woman that works like a slave, married with the brutal and stupid Man- jong (Jeong-hak Park) and has a little daughter Kim Yeon-hee (Ji-eun Lee). The four Man-jong's aunties and his brother also abuses of Bok- nam and Man-jong's catatonic father also live in Moodo. Bok-nam asks her friend if she could go with her daughter to Seoul with her but Hae-Won refuses the request. Then Bok-nam begs to Hae-Won to take her daughter with her, but she also refuses. Soon Bok-nam finds that her husband is having sex with her daughter and she decides to flee from the island with Yeon-hee. However Man-jong discovers and beats her and her daughter, but Yeon-hee hits her head on a stone and dies. When the police inspector arrives in Moodo, Man-jong and his family lie to him telling that it was an accident and Hae-Won's testimony is not supported by the indifferent Bok-nam that claims that was sleeping. When Man-jong and his brother go to the mainland, Bok-nam has a breakdown and uses a scythe to kill her hateful aunties. What will she do next?
"Kim Bok-nam salinsageonui jeonmal", a.k.a. Bedevilled, is another great Korean film. The story, screenplay and direction are outstanding and the performances are top-notch. Yeong-hie Seo deserved at least a nomination to the Oscar with her impressive performance. The inhuman and sadistic treatment of Kim Bok-nam is one of the cruelest ever seen in a film and Hae-Won is a bitch. My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): Not available on Blu-Ray or DVD.
"Kim Bok-nam salinsageonui jeonmal", a.k.a. Bedevilled, is another great Korean film. The story, screenplay and direction are outstanding and the performances are top-notch. Yeong-hie Seo deserved at least a nomination to the Oscar with her impressive performance. The inhuman and sadistic treatment of Kim Bok-nam is one of the cruelest ever seen in a film and Hae-Won is a bitch. My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): Not available on Blu-Ray or DVD.
Startling look at the human condition that packs a mean punch
Leofwine_draca19 November 2012
A harsh and unsettling revenge shocker that pulls no punches when it comes to depictions of on-screen violence, BEDEVILLED is a South Korean drama that ploughs the same depths of the human soul as other films like I SAW THE DEVIL. At first, the film is a real slow burner, a depiction of life on a remote rural island where spousal abuse is an everyday norm and the caste system leads to poor women being treated no better than dogs.
In many ways, the film is a character study of some truly unpleasant types, including the heroine (played by Ji Seong-won, handling a difficult role rather well) who finds herself visiting a rural community like no other. The brunt of the acting honours goes to Seo Yeong-hie as the put upon Bok-nam, forever abused by her husband as well as the village elders who routinely treat her like a pack horse and with the utmost contempt.
The violence and oppression gradually build until the all-out extended revenge climax which doesn't disappointment. Most Hollywood movies lose their nerve come the ending, never dishing out true justice to those deserving of it, but BEDEVILLED goes all the way and then some. It's the kind of film which will haunt you for days afterwards, and even a slightly disappointing ending fails to dilute the nature of its visceral power.
In many ways, the film is a character study of some truly unpleasant types, including the heroine (played by Ji Seong-won, handling a difficult role rather well) who finds herself visiting a rural community like no other. The brunt of the acting honours goes to Seo Yeong-hie as the put upon Bok-nam, forever abused by her husband as well as the village elders who routinely treat her like a pack horse and with the utmost contempt.
The violence and oppression gradually build until the all-out extended revenge climax which doesn't disappointment. Most Hollywood movies lose their nerve come the ending, never dishing out true justice to those deserving of it, but BEDEVILLED goes all the way and then some. It's the kind of film which will haunt you for days afterwards, and even a slightly disappointing ending fails to dilute the nature of its visceral power.
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good (wo)men to do nothing
FlorianLaur17 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Or in this case, a very apathetic and selfish Ji Seong-Won (Hae Won).
Growing up in Seoul and seemingly showing what is making more and more Koreans unhappy and suicidal, she focuses only on the things that benefit her. She doesn't know the meaning of empathy, everything MUST serve her own purpose. Whether she refuses to help a woman who is being molested (and ends up beaten to death, partially as a result of that) or to later identify the culprits (not even when they couldn't even see her or retaliate) and ignoring the suffering of the family members or if it's at work, she embodies the selfishness we can see a lot in today's society (and this movie was made in 2010).
But it does catch up with her when she hastily assumes a female colleague locked her into the bathroom for "revenge" (showing us more about herself, since that seems to be the only logical explanation, while it turns out, it was the cleaning lady who accidentally locked her in) and she slaps her in front of customers.
Her manager suspends her and suggests she takes a vacation.
After drinking herself into a stupor (despite her fancy car, apartment and material things, she doesn't seem to have any kind of "life", other than work), she decides to revisit the island she grew up on. Upon arrival, she is greeted enthusiastically by her childhood friend, Kim Bok-Nam, amazingly played by Seo Heong-Jie (The Chaser).
This is where the movie is starting to slow down a bit, having moved the plot from bustling Seoul to a remote island of 9 inhabitants. It's a very interesting contrast though: The Seoul we had seen so far was pretty much the opposite of Hae Won's character: Where she's selfish and without empathy, the cops or the co-workers in Seoul had all been kind or understanding of the suffering of others.
Not on the island though: Here, everyone is pretty much as selfish (if not worse if that's even possible) as Hae Won. The only kind person is her childhood friend, Bok-Nam. Her husband, his dim-witted and pervy brother, her cold-hearted, diabolical mother-in-law or her cousins(?) all treat her like a slave and she seems to be at the absolute bottom of the hacking order on the island. The only person that might stand as low or is not cared for either is the husband (?) of the mother-in-law. We don't really get to know why he behaves the way he does (he is seen eating some sort of leaf that Hae Won calls bozo leaf because it turns those who eat it in a bozo; it's also the one thing we constantly see her dimwitted brother-in-law eat), but the captain of the ferry that serves the island mentions that at some point in time, all the men on the island that were his age died during a storm and he was blamed, so it is possible he snapped and remained in the vegetative state he is seen in for the rest of the film. Nobody seems to care about him though.
It is interesting to see by the way that although this movie contains a lot of violence against women, WOMEN are the main culprit and root of evil here. Hae-Won is a woman. The mother-in-law and her cousins are the ones responsible for raising the son's in such a toxic way that they behave in the deprived way that they do (again, the captain mentions this). Bok-Nam also acknowledges this when she says that a child NEEDS a mother and father. Some reviewers seem to miss that by thinking this movie is trying to show how bad men are. And of course the men in this movie (on the island, that is) are bad. But except for the investigator and the criminals from Seoul, those men are all the product of the island and the backward women who live there and encouraged this toxic behavior.
The only other person that isn't evil is Bok-Nam's daughter and probably the only reason she's still alive. I won't go too deep into detail about her, but living on this toxic island and seemingly being groomed by her (potential) father just makes you wish her and her mother can leave the island as soon as possible.
What unfolds over the next 80 minutes is painfully hard to watch and although I have seen a lot of movies that are good at making you care for a character (especially Asian movies), I think I never saw one where I became so emotionally involved that I started shaking and wanted to climb into the tv to go on a rampage!
We see the continuous abuse of poor Bok-Nam while her "friend" Hae-Won just idly sits or stands by, never once trying to help her. Even after she basically finds out about what's being done to Bok-Nam's daughter (who in her innocence can't seem to see what a selfish person Hae-Won is and who seems to actually like her), she still doesn't do a thing to help.
There's an interesting small character, a hooker from the mainland, who (seemingly against her will) is brought to the island from time to time, much to the anger of Bok-Nam's daughter.
Even though this hooker barely knows Bok-Nam or shares any history with her, it is saying A LOT that during the short time she is there, she does way more to help or try and help Bok-Nam. She is also the one who tries to help her to escape (which sadly, but predictably fails and also seems to lead to the death(?) of the hooker who isn't seen after, but her make-up and luggage is).
Eventually, poor Bok-Nam has reached her limit and "snaps" (which is actually quite satisfying to watch, as the movie keeps pushing her and the viewer to our limit).
Even now, after witnessing Bok-Nam's abuse,the menslaughter of her daughter and after Bok-Nam saved her from being raped (although technically, Hae-Won doesn't know this), Hae-Won won't lift a finger to help and actually works against Bok-Nam.
Still, Bok-Nam does what has to be done (I doubt anyone ever feels that what she does is the least bit evil, but well-deserved), but shows that she isn't a crazy monster or "devil", for she spares her father-in-law and actually shows care by giving him a haircut and making sure he has something to eat after she leaves the island.
The conclusion of the movie is happening on the mainland (and again, we see the very interesting switch as the moment Bok-Nam leaves the boat, she receives empathy and human kindness, something only her daughter and the hooker had done for her, with the latter also being from the mainland).
I must admit, although the ending is typically Korean (their movies almost never have a "happy" end in the Western sense), it's very painful and sad in the message it gives the viewer and Hae-Won.
Yes, she seemingly did learn something, but she also deserved so much less. She now might become a different person who no longer doesn't care about the pain and suffering of others, but one can't help but to feel that this is way too little, way too late.
The movie ends with her reading the letters of Bok-Nam, who "killed" her with kindness and I must admit, it made me cry.
Bedevilled in my opinion is a very, very strong movie. Yes, it moves slow (although I never felt it was dull or boring), but that time is needed and makes us care and emphasize. And I think empathy or the lack thereof is the big theme of this movie. It isn't your classical "revenge" film and although I do like the revenge trilogy (Sympathy for Mr Vengeance, Oldboy, Kind-hearted Geum-Ja), I think I'd put this one slightly above it, mainly due to the strong plot and message, but also the amazing job Yeong-Hie Seo does.
Hopefully, this movie makes a few people reflect on their own life and think about empathy or others and that we aren't alone in the world...
Growing up in Seoul and seemingly showing what is making more and more Koreans unhappy and suicidal, she focuses only on the things that benefit her. She doesn't know the meaning of empathy, everything MUST serve her own purpose. Whether she refuses to help a woman who is being molested (and ends up beaten to death, partially as a result of that) or to later identify the culprits (not even when they couldn't even see her or retaliate) and ignoring the suffering of the family members or if it's at work, she embodies the selfishness we can see a lot in today's society (and this movie was made in 2010).
But it does catch up with her when she hastily assumes a female colleague locked her into the bathroom for "revenge" (showing us more about herself, since that seems to be the only logical explanation, while it turns out, it was the cleaning lady who accidentally locked her in) and she slaps her in front of customers.
Her manager suspends her and suggests she takes a vacation.
After drinking herself into a stupor (despite her fancy car, apartment and material things, she doesn't seem to have any kind of "life", other than work), she decides to revisit the island she grew up on. Upon arrival, she is greeted enthusiastically by her childhood friend, Kim Bok-Nam, amazingly played by Seo Heong-Jie (The Chaser).
This is where the movie is starting to slow down a bit, having moved the plot from bustling Seoul to a remote island of 9 inhabitants. It's a very interesting contrast though: The Seoul we had seen so far was pretty much the opposite of Hae Won's character: Where she's selfish and without empathy, the cops or the co-workers in Seoul had all been kind or understanding of the suffering of others.
Not on the island though: Here, everyone is pretty much as selfish (if not worse if that's even possible) as Hae Won. The only kind person is her childhood friend, Bok-Nam. Her husband, his dim-witted and pervy brother, her cold-hearted, diabolical mother-in-law or her cousins(?) all treat her like a slave and she seems to be at the absolute bottom of the hacking order on the island. The only person that might stand as low or is not cared for either is the husband (?) of the mother-in-law. We don't really get to know why he behaves the way he does (he is seen eating some sort of leaf that Hae Won calls bozo leaf because it turns those who eat it in a bozo; it's also the one thing we constantly see her dimwitted brother-in-law eat), but the captain of the ferry that serves the island mentions that at some point in time, all the men on the island that were his age died during a storm and he was blamed, so it is possible he snapped and remained in the vegetative state he is seen in for the rest of the film. Nobody seems to care about him though.
It is interesting to see by the way that although this movie contains a lot of violence against women, WOMEN are the main culprit and root of evil here. Hae-Won is a woman. The mother-in-law and her cousins are the ones responsible for raising the son's in such a toxic way that they behave in the deprived way that they do (again, the captain mentions this). Bok-Nam also acknowledges this when she says that a child NEEDS a mother and father. Some reviewers seem to miss that by thinking this movie is trying to show how bad men are. And of course the men in this movie (on the island, that is) are bad. But except for the investigator and the criminals from Seoul, those men are all the product of the island and the backward women who live there and encouraged this toxic behavior.
The only other person that isn't evil is Bok-Nam's daughter and probably the only reason she's still alive. I won't go too deep into detail about her, but living on this toxic island and seemingly being groomed by her (potential) father just makes you wish her and her mother can leave the island as soon as possible.
What unfolds over the next 80 minutes is painfully hard to watch and although I have seen a lot of movies that are good at making you care for a character (especially Asian movies), I think I never saw one where I became so emotionally involved that I started shaking and wanted to climb into the tv to go on a rampage!
We see the continuous abuse of poor Bok-Nam while her "friend" Hae-Won just idly sits or stands by, never once trying to help her. Even after she basically finds out about what's being done to Bok-Nam's daughter (who in her innocence can't seem to see what a selfish person Hae-Won is and who seems to actually like her), she still doesn't do a thing to help.
There's an interesting small character, a hooker from the mainland, who (seemingly against her will) is brought to the island from time to time, much to the anger of Bok-Nam's daughter.
Even though this hooker barely knows Bok-Nam or shares any history with her, it is saying A LOT that during the short time she is there, she does way more to help or try and help Bok-Nam. She is also the one who tries to help her to escape (which sadly, but predictably fails and also seems to lead to the death(?) of the hooker who isn't seen after, but her make-up and luggage is).
Eventually, poor Bok-Nam has reached her limit and "snaps" (which is actually quite satisfying to watch, as the movie keeps pushing her and the viewer to our limit).
Even now, after witnessing Bok-Nam's abuse,the menslaughter of her daughter and after Bok-Nam saved her from being raped (although technically, Hae-Won doesn't know this), Hae-Won won't lift a finger to help and actually works against Bok-Nam.
Still, Bok-Nam does what has to be done (I doubt anyone ever feels that what she does is the least bit evil, but well-deserved), but shows that she isn't a crazy monster or "devil", for she spares her father-in-law and actually shows care by giving him a haircut and making sure he has something to eat after she leaves the island.
The conclusion of the movie is happening on the mainland (and again, we see the very interesting switch as the moment Bok-Nam leaves the boat, she receives empathy and human kindness, something only her daughter and the hooker had done for her, with the latter also being from the mainland).
I must admit, although the ending is typically Korean (their movies almost never have a "happy" end in the Western sense), it's very painful and sad in the message it gives the viewer and Hae-Won.
Yes, she seemingly did learn something, but she also deserved so much less. She now might become a different person who no longer doesn't care about the pain and suffering of others, but one can't help but to feel that this is way too little, way too late.
The movie ends with her reading the letters of Bok-Nam, who "killed" her with kindness and I must admit, it made me cry.
Bedevilled in my opinion is a very, very strong movie. Yes, it moves slow (although I never felt it was dull or boring), but that time is needed and makes us care and emphasize. And I think empathy or the lack thereof is the big theme of this movie. It isn't your classical "revenge" film and although I do like the revenge trilogy (Sympathy for Mr Vengeance, Oldboy, Kind-hearted Geum-Ja), I think I'd put this one slightly above it, mainly due to the strong plot and message, but also the amazing job Yeong-Hie Seo does.
Hopefully, this movie makes a few people reflect on their own life and think about empathy or others and that we aren't alone in the world...
no one has properly reviewed this movie as of yet, let me set things straight
kartikdec21 June 2016
Warning: Spoilers
bedevilled is a compelling movie which describes how emotional torment can push a human being (bok-nam) beyond the limits of sanity to the extent that, that being goes on a rampant killing streak. But thats about it, there is nothing deep to this movie. The director and screen write try to be clever by contrasting bok-nam's psychological issues, with her friend (hae-won)ego-centric personality. This egocentricity is displayed when hae-won avoids going into harms way. This can be witnessed in numerous scenes, but is generally highlighted when hae-won sees bok-nam's child murdered by bok-nam's husband, only to deny that she ever witnessed the scene in the first place. One would then think that bok-nam's murderous tendencies are a conduit of redemption, but it reality the movies fails to fully achieve redemption as Bok-nam fails to kill Hae-won (her one friend who betrayed her). If the true intent of the director was to emphasize the theme of redemption then he should have let bok-nam finish her job. Personally speaking I was hoping for a scene in which Hae-won, while at the brink of death, reconciles her wrong doings. Instead we find that bok-nam is killed by the hands of Hae-won, who then turns a new leaf in life. It just seems so pathetic, how can one have such flat characters that only change their view towards life after killing a human being, wasn't the whole point of the film to show that one can't live their life for themselves, rather in order to survive one needs to be caring about other peoples values (what bok-nam did throughout her entire life). In my opinion,by killing off bok-nam there is no justice served, which just leaves a distasteful feeling when the movie ends. Honestly speaking, I have no idea what the director is trying to do in this movie. The implicit themes and messages seem so ambiguous that you don't know whether they are done intentionally or whether its just terrible screen play. It is a shame that this movie fails follow through with its original message because the acting of bok-nam and her husband was done exceptionally well.
Overall this movie doesn't fit into the category of a horror or a thriller because it isn't scary, frightening or even unpredictable. I guess the director was hoping that the gory scenes would provide shock value or some sort of detestation from the viewer but having watched numerous similar films, this one doesn't really strike me as being different I recommend watching this movie just to check it out but in no way is this a master piece like others have suggested.
Overall this movie doesn't fit into the category of a horror or a thriller because it isn't scary, frightening or even unpredictable. I guess the director was hoping that the gory scenes would provide shock value or some sort of detestation from the viewer but having watched numerous similar films, this one doesn't really strike me as being different I recommend watching this movie just to check it out but in no way is this a master piece like others have suggested.
Such a masterpiece,An intense,depressive but very realistic story
jsaleem-8970525 April 2020
Loved this movie ,story was very realistic still in many countries women get abused by men & also potray perfectly that women also enemy others women,if u cannot be kind r care about ur own gender what u can accept from men?)Direction,script,story all was great acting by all cast was too good story was very depressive but very good & realistic same time
Island woman returns home from Seoul to visit a friend; terror ensues.
suite9223 October 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Self-involved bank officer Hae-won (makes decisions about loans) witnessed an attempted rape, and does not want to identify the perpetrators for the police to support the victim's case.
She gets people irritated with her at work, and her boss decides she should take a vacation. She goes to Moo-do Island, which is currently rather sparsely populated, where her old friend Bok-nam lives and also where she grew up.
Oi, what a primitive island. Bok-nam's husband is a real control freak, and imports a prostitute from the mainland. He seduces Bok-nam's daughter, who is putatively his.
Hae-won gets fired by e-mail. Nice touch. She's about to go home when Bok-nam tells her about the daughter. The matriarch of the island invites her directly to leave, or stay forever.
Bok-nam tries to escape to Seoul with her daughter, early in the morning, before Hae-won wakes up. The husband beats her up instead, badly, and kills the daughter. Explaining this to the police officer who visited was amazing in the depth of the lying. The locals encourage the policeman to leave before Hae-won can go with him. He does.
What could possibly go wrong at this point? That is basically the heart of the movie. Will Hae-won survive with these terrible people, who used to be her people? If so, what will she do when she gets back?
-----Scores-------
Cinematography: 10/10 No problems.
Sound: 10/10 Just fine.
Acting: 5/10 Yeong-hie Seo and Sung-won Ji were just terrible. The fellow who played the violent husband was even worse. The supporting players were OK.
Screenplay: 5/10 Should have been a 30 or 40 minute short, part of an anthology. Stretched way too long.
She gets people irritated with her at work, and her boss decides she should take a vacation. She goes to Moo-do Island, which is currently rather sparsely populated, where her old friend Bok-nam lives and also where she grew up.
Oi, what a primitive island. Bok-nam's husband is a real control freak, and imports a prostitute from the mainland. He seduces Bok-nam's daughter, who is putatively his.
Hae-won gets fired by e-mail. Nice touch. She's about to go home when Bok-nam tells her about the daughter. The matriarch of the island invites her directly to leave, or stay forever.
Bok-nam tries to escape to Seoul with her daughter, early in the morning, before Hae-won wakes up. The husband beats her up instead, badly, and kills the daughter. Explaining this to the police officer who visited was amazing in the depth of the lying. The locals encourage the policeman to leave before Hae-won can go with him. He does.
What could possibly go wrong at this point? That is basically the heart of the movie. Will Hae-won survive with these terrible people, who used to be her people? If so, what will she do when she gets back?
-----Scores-------
Cinematography: 10/10 No problems.
Sound: 10/10 Just fine.
Acting: 5/10 Yeong-hie Seo and Sung-won Ji were just terrible. The fellow who played the violent husband was even worse. The supporting players were OK.
Screenplay: 5/10 Should have been a 30 or 40 minute short, part of an anthology. Stretched way too long.
Super disturbing , for
tchitouniaram24 April 2022
Well crafted
sangavia14 February 2022
Korean movies never disappoint on giving best twists in there movies, and the way the movie talks about human sanity is well worth watching. The character are so well made that it's not easy viewing as story progresses. But worth watching if we are ready to dig on bad side of human choice.
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