Home Video Menu
Home Prev Next Menu
Better experience in portrait mode.

5 Best Korean Thriller Movies You Must Watch, Two of Them by Bong Joon-ho!

kapanlagi
5 Best Korean Thriller Movies You Must Watch, Two of Them by Bong Joon-ho! Illustration of someone watching a thriller movie.

Kapanlagi.com - Who can resist watching a thriller movie? This genre always successfully creates curiosity, especially when it comes from South Korea!

Yes, it’s common knowledge that Korean thriller films have storylines filled with tension and often make your heart race. From spine-chilling action to mind-bending mysteries, everything is guaranteed to make you addicted!

Not only exciting, but Korean thrillers are also known for their unpredictable plot twists. Just when you think you understand the storyline, suddenly there’s a surprise that leaves you speechless!

Moreover, many Korean thriller films not only provide tension but also delve deeply into the psychological aspects of the characters. That’s why watching this genre is not just about adrenaline, but also makes us think and feel the emotions of the characters.

Curious about which films should be on your watchlist? Let’s check out the list!

1. Oldboy (2003)

Oldboy (2003) is a South Korean neo-noir thriller film directed by Park Chan-wook. This film is part of "The Vengeance Trilogy" and is adapted from a Japanese manga of the same name.

Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik) is kidnapped and imprisoned for 15 years without explanation. Suddenly released, he is given five days to find his captor.

In his search, he meets Mi-do (Kang Hye-jung) and ultimately confronts Lee Woo-jin (Yoo Ji-tae), who harbors dark secrets from Dae-su's past.

The film stars three main actors, namely Choi Min-sik as Oh Dae-su, Yoo Ji-tae as Lee Woo-jin, and Kang Hye-jung as Mi-do.

Released on November 21, 2003, the film won the Grand Prix at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival and received widespread acclaim, holding an IMDb rating of 8.4/10 and a Rotten Tomatoes score of 82% (critics), 94% (audience).

2. Memories of Murder (2003)

Flyer for the movie Memories of Murder. (Netflix)

Memories of Murder is a South Korean crime thriller film directed by Bong Joon-ho, based on the first serial murder case in Korea from 1986-1991.

The film follows the story of two detectives, Park Doo-man (Song Kang-ho) and Seo Tae-yoon (Kim Sang-kyung), investigating a series of murders of women in a small town.

With a haphazard and violent investigative method, they struggle to find the perpetrator. As the investigation progresses, tensions rise, and the truth becomes increasingly elusive, ultimately leaving the case unsolved.

The three main actors in this film are Song Kang-ho as Detective Park Doo-man, Kim Sang-kyung as Detective Seo Tae-yoon, and Kim Roe-ha as Detective Cho Yong-koo.

Released in 2003, the film has an IMDb rating of 8.1/10. Known for its gripping narrative and social critique, Memories of Murder is one of the best Korean films that leaves a profound impact on its audience.

3. The Caser (2008)

One of the scenes from the movie The Caser (IMDb).

The Chaser is a South Korean crime thriller film directed by Na Hong-jin, inspired by the true story of a serial killer in Korea.

The film tells the story of Jung-ho (Kim Yoon-seok), a former detective who has now become a pimp, who begins to suspect when several women working for him disappear without a trace.

While investigating, he discovers that their last client is Young-min (Ha Jung-woo), a mysterious man who turns out to be a serial killer. With time running out, Jung-ho must race to find the last victim before it’s too late.

The film features three main actors, namely Kim Yoon-seok as Jung-ho, Ha Jung-woo as Young-min, and Seo Young-hee as Mi-jin.

The film, released in 2008, has a rating of 7.8/10 on IMDb. With escalating tension, intense chase scenes, and a dark atmosphere, The Chaser is one of the best Korean thrillers that captivates audiences until the end.

4. Forgotten (2017)

One of the scenes from the movie Forgotten. (IMDb)

Forgotten is a South Korean psychological thriller film directed by Jang Hang-jun. This film is known for its mysterious plot and shocking twists.

The film tells the story of Jin-seok (Kang Ha-neul) and his family moving into a new house. One night, his brother, Yoo-seok (Kim Mu-yeol), is suddenly kidnapped and returns 19 days later with no memory of what happened.

However, Jin-seok begins to notice strange changes in his brother and feels that something is not right. As he tries to uncover the truth, shocking dark secrets begin to unfold.

The four main cast members in this film are Kang Ha-neul as Jin-seok, Kim Mu-yeol as Yoo-seok, Moon Sung-keun as Father, and Na Young-hee as Mother.

This film, released in 2017, achieved an IMDb rating of 7.4/10. With an atmosphere full of tension and an unpredictable story, Forgotten is a film that successfully keeps the audience guessing until the end.

5. Parasite (2019)

One of the scenes from Parasite. (IMDb)

Parasite is a South Korean drama thriller film directed by Bong Joon-ho. This film became a global phenomenon and won the Palme d'Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival as well as 4 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

The plot of this film tells the story of the poor Kim family—Ki-taek (Song Kang-ho), Chung-sook (Jang Hye-jin), Ki-woo (Choi Woo-shik), and Ki-jung (Park So-dam)—who try to infiltrate the life of the wealthy Park family by pretending to be professional workers.

Initially, their plan goes smoothly, but the situation changes as the dark secrets of the Park family begin to unfold, bringing horrific consequences.

There are five main actors in this film, namely Song Kang-ho as Kim Ki-taek, Lee Sun-kyun as Park Dong-ik, Cho Yeo-jeong as Choi Yeon-gyo, Choi Woo-shik as Kim Ki-woo, and Park So-dam as Kim Ki-jung.

This film, which was released in 2019, has an IMDb rating of 8.5/10. Combining black comedy, social critique, and thriller, Parasite is a sharp and surprising cinematic masterpiece that discusses social inequality in a unique and thought-provoking way.

Well, those are five Korean thriller films you can watch on various streaming platforms. Be sure to check the availability of the films on your chosen platform. Happy watching!

(kpl/mfd)

Disclaimer: This translation from Bahasa Indonesia to English has been generated by Artificial Intelligence.
Swipe Up Next Article

Cobain For You Page (FYP) Yang kamu suka ada di sini,
lihat isinya

Buka FYP