The synopses of these films and their advertising never reveal much and its always so different to watch the movies themselves than what I assume they'll be upon first contact.
The Chaser (2008) is written and directed by Na Hong-jin and its his debut feature. The film has a very odd setup: An ex police detective turned pimp investigates the disappearance of his prostitutes who have had the unfortune of serving a deranged serial killer.
It's a movie that immediately puts itself at the odd disadvantage of making it's protagonist somewhat despicable. He is a pimp and acts like one, not being particularly soft on his workers, yet it wasn't hard to relate to him and support him in his mission. I think there are three reasons why this is:
1) Contrasted with an even nastier individual
The protagonist, who could be seen as a bad person, is made to look better because he's placed next to the serial killer, a much worse human being. This is I think a common technique, although I can't exactly recall the other popular examples.
2) Seen protecting girls
He is seen acting as a bodyguard to one of the girls, a big part of his job as a pimp, even though this is still despicable in some way it comes off as if he cares for those less well off. He stands up for those less fortunate than him in a twisted kind of way. This is another common technique to make us like a hero.
3) Played off normally - it's just his job
His immoral occupation isn't represented as such, it's presented as just being a job that he does. Kind of like how hitmen or assassin's are often represented. This also implies it's not for pleasure that he's really doing it, more just because he has to. If it was shown that he does it because of greed or a reason similar to that we wouldn't sympathize, he does it because he's forced into the situation and if he had a choice he probably wouldn't.
The reason for this is briefly mentioned later in the film when he talks to some of his old cop buddies, although it came a bit too late in the story in my opinion. This kind of information should have been provided upfront to the audience in order for us to care. By the time it does come around we no longer really care and am just along for the ride, a similar complaint to the one I had about I Saw The Devil when that film tried analyzing the protagonists' motivations. Be more consistent with this stuff, or more up front or at the very least build more mystery and suspense before the reveal.
The Chaser himself on the job
The weirdest thing about The Chaser and something that I feel is quite relevant after the session with Duncan the other day is that it seems to completely lack a coherent structure. It feels like the writer just went with the flow and let the story lead itself. This is interesting and results in a very entertaining and unpredictable film, but it does mean that it at times feels like a first draft and that a lot of potentially great narrative avenues remain unexplored.
One of these is the brief team-up between the protagonist and the villain, and when I say brief I really mean brief. In the film The Chaser catches the serial killer, cuffs him and takes him into custody, at this point I remember getting excited because I thought they would be teamed up and a portion of the film would act as a buddy comedy or odd couple situation. Instead this potential is immediately squandered when they are both arrested and spend their time at the police station mostly separated.
This happens again and at a more extreme level later in the film (spoilers) when the detective takes the daughter of the kidnapped prostitute along with him during his investigation. This one is explored a bit more and we spend more time with these two characters together but it feels like the writer didn't see the potential here and teamed them up simply due to circumstance. It doesn't feel like he milked the situation for what it was worth.
There are a couple of examples like this and all disappoint because they are good, interesting setups filled with potential conflict and character development.
The Serial Killer Chased by The Chaser
There is one amazingly well written scene that I have to point out (spoilers). One of the girls goes with the serial killer, who the detective has by now figured out is up to some dodgy business. She is informed to call the detective once she's inside his house and give the detective the address. Once she's inside though she realizes there's no signal. This ups the ante a bit, but we're still somewhat at ease, the real shocker comes when she tries to get better reception by pointing her phone out the window - that's when she realizes there is no window, it's bricked up. Then she realizes how dirty the room is, and the blood on the tiles and the piece of hair and scalp in the shower. And now she's stuck in the house...
It's just a really fun horror scene that escalates brilliantly. The moment she sees the brick is priceless, the whole thing is just very tense and engaging and has that classic horror sense of dreadful realization. The best scene in the film I think and it milks the situation for all it's worth.
This scene is pretty brutal and the film isn't shy to show off
The strengths of the film is in it's constant ability to stay fresh, I think this has a direct correlation with the films weaknesses though - that it feels underdeveloped. There's a big plot point at the end of the film involving a grocery store, and yet this location is never established at any point prior. Because of what happens here it makes the film feel like it relies on coincidence and makes it feel poorly planned, this could have so easily been fixed in an earlier scene just by establishing that the villain visits the store often. This would have also added more tension and engaged the audience more when it becomes relevant.
I think it's a good film, but one that, especially from a narrative point of view, could have been much better and felt unrefined.
_________________________________________________________________________________I think I would have done the film very differently if I had to make or remake it. Firstly I think those plot lines that showed good narrative potential but was never expanded upon should get a fair shot - specifically teaming up the killer and detective and doubling up on the detective and young girl dynamic.
I thought about how I would do it and I think I would keep most of the first couple of scenes the same, right up until The Chaser captures the serial killer. This is also the best part of the film. At this point I would have the two spend some time together, with the detective trying to solve the crime with the man with all the answers right next to him. I'd lead this straight into the scene where he takes the little girl along, but this time it would be a trio, him, the killer and the girl.
I like this dynamic, it's like two surrogate parents, except neither is equipped to take care of a young girl, one is trying to investigate the secrets of the other and one is responsible for the murder of the young girl they're looking after. In the film I thought it would be great to see how the killer interacts with the daughter of his latest victim.
I would have this dynamic take up about half the film and have the two main characters separated for the second half up until the very end, this way there is a tension and anticipation built up for their next meeting which would come at the end of the film. That's something else I think the actual movie made a mistake with - having the killer and investigator come face to face halfway through the second half. This should be built up and when The Chaser finds out that he is indeed a serial killer they shouldn't see each other immediately. Milk the most out of that tension I say, makes the ending that much more satisfying.
Their time together would allow for them to learn eachother's tricks and a parenting theme can exist with the presence of the young girl. Again there is a lot of great narrative potential in this film, it's just not really taken advantage of. If I did remake it, it would be a very different, but I think better, film.
It sits in an odd spot where I can't remake it even if I had the rights because it would be too different and yet I can't make it into an original film because then I'd be plagiarizing. Sadly there's too much and too little that needs changing.
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