15 Chilling Movie Villains That Are Harrowing To Watch
11. Jang Kyung-Chul - I Saw The Devil
Cinema is not short on memorable serial killers but this relatively obscure one is one of its very best.
In this dark and twisted serial killer film from South Korea, Oldboy's Choi Min-Sik plays this violent murderer, who kills women and children in a series of depraved murders. He's extremely difficult to watch on two major levels. Firstly, he's a visceral, physically strong killer who is nearly unstoppable, and secondly he's an exceptionally terrifying picture of rage, malice and hatred. When he truly lets loose, he's a fully-fledged horror movie monster and a nightmarish human being. Or is he?
Despite all the horrific aspects of the character, Choi Min-Sik still manages to bring out a huge amount of sympathy in him. There is an undeniable sense of loneliness and misery running through Jang, making you wonder if he's actually a sad man driven into madness by the misery of his life. As terrifying as he is, he is also a tragic figure and a sad showcase of what emotional trauma can do to people.
It's this complex, balanced performance that confirms Choi Min-Sik as arguably one of the best living film actors.