Based partly on the true story of South Korea's first-known serial killer, Memories of Murder is a strange and haunting foray into the serial killer movie that - like many of the films from its country of origin - isn't afraid to defy genre trappings. Somehow, Bong Joon-ho's picture manages to be both serious and satirical without firmly committing to either approach. On its most basic level, Memories of Murder is a procedural that sees a local cop - played by Song Kang-ho - teamed with a big city cop - Kim Sang-kyung - after several women are found raped and murdered in fields out in the countryside. It is, at once, a deft examination of a time when police investigators were limited by technology - a lot of work came down to just having a hunch, and information was often acquired by way of violent threat - and a careful study of what happens to those who are tasked with solving horrific crimes and the mental and physical toll that it takes on them. Memories of Murder is also consistently thrilling, beautifully shot, unpredictable and funny. It plainly shouldn't work, and yet it arguably stands as the best serial killer film ever made. Like this article? Agree or disagree with these choices? Are there any other serial killer movies that should have made the list? Let us know in the comments section below.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
