Crimes are a popular subject in films, with numerous stories exploring the dark depths of human behaviour. Murders, in particular, offer a glimpse into the intricate workings of the human psyche.

‘Memories of Murder’ delves deep into the psyche of not just the suspects and victims of crime, but also the detectives tasked with solving them. Detective Park Doo-man (Song Kang-ho) and detective Seo Tae-yoon (Kim Sang-Kyung) are toiling away to solve a series of murders that occurred in the 1980s in South Korea.

Unlike typical crime stories that often sensationalise violence, the film delves into the psychological complexities underlying criminal behaviour and the toll it takes on those involved. Much like the American TV series ‘Breaking Bad’, where crimes are shown as messy, and not as smooth or cool as we see in many movies, director Boon Joon Ho, shows us the same in this 2003 film.

Much before the masterpiece that is ‘Parasite’, Bong gave cinephiles another dark movie that covered the intricacies human psyche. Trying to solve a series of murder cases is draining and through great storytelling and absorbing acting, the film captivates with its haunting ambience. The director creates a world that feels both familiar and unsettling.

Each rainy night a woman who walks in the deserted fields is raped and murdered. The next morning a line of journalists appear asking questions and detectives are itching their heads as to what had happened. Several women are being murdered in the same manner, but the murderer leaves no clues behind, which gives the detectives nowhere to start.

Doo-man and his partner decide to play the waiting game and stay hidden at the crime scene because the former believes, “A criminal always returns to the crime scene.” However, the criminal doesn’t. Out of frustration, Doo-man begins to torture innocent people and compels them to confess to the crime. Even that doesn’t work. Which makes him quit the police job and work in a business firm, as shown later in the film.

When he was working as a detective, there were no sunny days—only gloomy and rainy days—describing the dark and toilsome nature of the job. But when we see Doo-man as a business firm employee, the sun is shining down on him—telling of the light-hearted and less risky job.

The soundtrack adds another layer of depth to the film, perfectly complementing the mood and atmosphere of each scene. From eerie melodies to pulse-pounding rhythms, the music heightens the tension and keeps audiences on the edge of their seats throughout the film.

What truly sets the film apart is its refusal to provide easy answers or neatly tie up loose ends. As the investigation unfolds, viewers are drawn deeper into a web of intrigue—our curiosity is piqued with each new clue and revelation.

Also, the urgency displayed by the actors doesn’t let the audience relax. We are left constantly wondering, suspecting and keeping an eye out for any details. But just like us, the detectives too are clueless as they can’t reach a conclusion. The desperation goes on.

Despite their best efforts, the detectives find themselves grappling with the limitations of their own understanding and the elusive nature of truth itself. The film reminds us that crimes are not just acts of evil or desperation, but complex manifestations of human psychology and social dysfunction.

As the story unfolds, the characters are forced to confront their own biases and prejudices, challenging the very foundations of their beliefs and identities. The film serves as a powerful meditation on the nature of justice and the moral ambiguities inherent in the pursuit of truth.

Even at the end, the film leaves audiences haunted by the spectre of unresolved mysteries and unanswered questions. Yet, it is precisely this ambiguity that makes ‘Memories of Murder’ such a compelling and unforgettable cinematic experience. In its refusal to offer easy answers or tidy resolutions, the film challenges us to confront the darkness within ourselves and the fragile illusions that bind us together.

Towards the end, when Doo-man realises the murderer looks like an ordinary man, he looks at the camera as if to say the criminal is amid us. Among the many common faces in the world, one could be of the criminal. When the movie was made in 2003, the murderer was not known, but in 2019, it was found that it was Lee Chun-jae who had committed all the murders.

Memories of Murder

Director: Bong Joon-ho

Cast: Kang ho Song, Hae il Park, Kim Roi-ha

Language: Korean

Year: 2003

Duration: 2 hours 12 minutes