I loved The Host and Train to Buson (and Parasite). Probably should have thought to add those. Thirst and Exhuma are on my priority watch list, I will add Sleep!
no one mentioned A Bittersweet Life so far which is a shame. one of my fav action movies ever by the I Saw the Devil director and if The Man from Nowhere counts Bittersweet Life def does too (and is a way better movie imo).
No Bong Joon-Ho is also just weird, but I guess everyone mentioned those already
https://preview.redd.it/fegxri9mry8d1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3f7cb667f8a3a413b1380a0806aeef9e71ad9f33
I’ll be in the minority, but I think Bong Joon-ho’s ‘Mother’ (2009) is his masterpiece
One of the greatest thrillers ever imo
No one I know has seen it and some of that is because it's hard to find, but one of my favorites is Spider Forest (2004). A Lynch-ian mindfuck ghost story with a lot of style and atmosphere.
You're welcome!
And btw, it looks like there's two films called Office released in 2015. For clarification, [this is the one I'm recommending, dir. by Hong Won-chan](https://boxd.it/b6ok); the other is from China/Hong Kong, dir. by Johnnie To.
There was a cool movie my rental store used to have called 3 Extremes featuring prominent Asian directors. One of the features is a Park Chan Wook short that is really great.
if you like revenge thrillers, I would pick The Man From Nowhere. Otherwise, and this is probably recency bias (because I watched it yesterday): The Chaser
I didn't realize it says Korean until after I commented. It's a Japanese film. It's the prequel to suicide club and a million times better. Not a fan of suicide club at all really, but this film is in my top 5 all time favorite movies
From what hasn't been named:
Joint Security Area
The Gangster, the Cop, and the Devil
The Outlaws
Midnight
One of the short films in Three...Extremes is by Park (Cut).
A lot of solid recs in this thread - another lowkey one, a little more of a fable, still very thrilling and powerful and has Choi Min Sook - The Tiger(2015)
- Burning
- New World
- The Host
- Snowpiercer
- Parasite
- Memories of Murder
- Thirst
- Squid Game
The Terror Live (2013) - Solid thriller where a radio show host is being held responsible for the lives of thousands of citizens as they try to fight against a mysterious caller sending bomb threats. The entire film takes place in a single building but mostly in the radio show room and gets very intense. It falls off in the third act, sadly.
The Man Standing Next (2020) - A political thriller that is about a surprising true story about the assassination of the President of South Korea. There is a fictional side story included.
The Age of Shadows (2016) - Probably the only Kim Jee Woon film I haven’t seen mentioned on the thread so far.
Silenced (2011) - This may fit more in the drama category but it’s extremely disturbing because the film is about a true story.
JSA (2000) - Classic mystery thriller about tensions between North and South. There were a few other great thrillers I wanted to recommend but they came out a year before the turn of the century [Shiri (1999) and Nowhere to Hide (1999)]
Seems like you enjoy different genres, so I'll give you a few diverse ones.
*On the more action oriented side*
The City of Violence (2006) - A police detective teams up with a small time gangster to investigate the murder of a friend from their high school days.
Starts off as a mystery thriller, becomes an action movie by the end.
*More of a drama thriller*
Breathless (2008) - A violent loan shark tries to deal with the memories of being abused as a kid.
Not really any 'action scenes' per se, more of a character study. The main character is a criminal, but a petty one, and his crimes aren't the focus.
*Kind of in-between*
A Dirty Carnival (2006) - A petty criminal gains his boss' respect by committing an assassination, but gets in trouble when his filmmaker friend uses the murder as inspiration for a gangster film.
Haven't seen these mentioned. If I missed them apologies for double recommendations
1. Gonjiam Haunted Asylum (found footage but with a twist)
2. Thirst (vampire movie)
3. The Mimic (Creature feature/ Urban Legend)
Memories of Murder?
It's been on my radar, but I still have not seen it. Added it to my priority watchlist. Thank you!
If you love Korean cinema, that one’s practically mandatory viewing. It’s fantastic.
Definitely my favorite from Bong.
Wow, I’m jealous. I wish I could watch that movie for the first time again. Amazing movie.
It’s probably my favourite bong film
I can't tell whether it's bait that you didn't include Parasite.
It's not (rage) bait. To be honest, probably because of its more comedy-drama tones (than thiller), I completely spaced on including it.
- The Host (2006) - Thirst (2009) - Train to Busan (2016) - Sleep (2023) - Exhuma (2024) And obviously Parasite (2019)
Yep that’s about exactly what I was going to post.
Exhuma rocks
It also fucks. I thought I was watching an occult movie and then suddenly they’re fighting an 8 foot Japanese samurai war general lol wtf?
Sleep is so good! I think it could be a hit when it gets a proper release.
I loved The Host and Train to Buson (and Parasite). Probably should have thought to add those. Thirst and Exhuma are on my priority watch list, I will add Sleep!
train to busan was more action than a thriller
Decision to Leave
Thank you for the recommendation! I added it to my watch list
It's amazing
Director Park’s best in my opinion. It’s basically a Hitchcock thriller but in the 21st Century. Big Vertigo vibes
Came here to mention this!!
How hasn't Burning (2018) been mentioned yet? It's literally one of the most thrilling films I've ever seen.
Literally my favorite film of all time.
Came here to mention Burning. That movie is phenomenal.
Thank you for the suggestion, I have added it to my list
The Yellow Sea kicks ass, highly recommend New world was also pretty great
Thank you for the recommendations!
Seconding Yellow Sea. It absolutely rips
no one mentioned A Bittersweet Life so far which is a shame. one of my fav action movies ever by the I Saw the Devil director and if The Man from Nowhere counts Bittersweet Life def does too (and is a way better movie imo). No Bong Joon-Ho is also just weird, but I guess everyone mentioned those already
That sounds very promising, I will check it out, thank you!
Yeah had to scroll way to far to find A Bittersweet Life. It is excellent.
Brutal film! Very memorable.
Featuring one of the best priming the audience moments - the gun dealer segment is better than some entire movies.
Yes absolutely!
https://preview.redd.it/fegxri9mry8d1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3f7cb667f8a3a413b1380a0806aeef9e71ad9f33 I’ll be in the minority, but I think Bong Joon-ho’s ‘Mother’ (2009) is his masterpiece One of the greatest thrillers ever imo
Mother & Parasite waffle between my favorites of his
nice!
I watched it last night, and I'm like u/signal_red, waffling between Mother & Parasite
Mine favourite Bong is Memories of Murder, but I think that just it demonstrates how great a director he is.
No one I know has seen it and some of that is because it's hard to find, but one of my favorites is Spider Forest (2004). A Lynch-ian mindfuck ghost story with a lot of style and atmosphere.
Great movie.
Sounds great!
Parasite
It’s Japanese, not Korean. But CURE 1997 fits this vibe very well.
I love Cure!
Office (2015) Okja (2017) I agree with adding The Host, Train to Busan, and Parasite
Okja was on my radar, never heard of Office, so added it to my watch list, thank you for the recommendation!
You're welcome! And btw, it looks like there's two films called Office released in 2015. For clarification, [this is the one I'm recommending, dir. by Hong Won-chan](https://boxd.it/b6ok); the other is from China/Hong Kong, dir. by Johnnie To.
Thank you!
There was a cool movie my rental store used to have called 3 Extremes featuring prominent Asian directors. One of the features is a Park Chan Wook short that is really great.
I will check it out, thank you!
I guess nobody has mentioned Bedevilled?
Thank you for the suggestion, I added it to my watch list!
thank god somebody did
The Host
If I would watch only one of those, which one should I watch? No Oldboy, please
if you like revenge thrillers, I would pick The Man From Nowhere. Otherwise, and this is probably recency bias (because I watched it yesterday): The Chaser
I added the ones I haven't seen to my Reddit recommends list. Thanks.
If you really want a spicy one, "Cut" its a short by Park Chan-wook in the "Three Extremes" anthology film.
Thank you for the suggestion!
the dumplings short still haunts me tbh!!
Did you know that it got turned into a feature later?
I did but I haven't watched it! Have you? It's been on my to watch list for...way too long lol
I watched it like 10 years ago lol. I think the short might be better in all honesty but I don't remember the difference very well.
r/koreanfilm often has some good lists/suggestions
Thank you so much!
I see no one mentioned A Hard Day (2014)
Thank you for the suggestion, I have added it to my watch list!
Forgotten (2017)
Norikos dinner table
Thank you for the recommendation! I added it to my to watch list
I didn't realize it says Korean until after I commented. It's a Japanese film. It's the prequel to suicide club and a million times better. Not a fan of suicide club at all really, but this film is in my top 5 all time favorite movies
I saw, but it looked interesting, so I did decide to also watch it, even though it is technically off-topic for this post :-)
Not Korean, but "Cold Fish"(2010) is absolutely fantastic. Definitely a hidden gem that more people need to see.
Looks very interesting, I added it to my non Korean list!
Train to Busan is my go-to for this
I’m glad to see the chaser. Love that film. Train to Busan fits there too imo
Mother
From what hasn't been named: Joint Security Area The Gangster, the Cop, and the Devil The Outlaws Midnight One of the short films in Three...Extremes is by Park (Cut).
Thank you for the recommendations, I added them!
Memories of Murder, Mother, Burning, Thirst and JSA (this one is a stretch for your category but i love it and im gonna force it on the list)
force away :-) Thank you for the recommendations
I gotta recommend Forgotten. Underrated.
I guess(2020) will be quite fresh to you.
Thank you for the recommendation!
No Mercy and Montage
Thank you for the suggestions!
Thirst
Thank you for the suggestion!
So many good ones here already, but I would also suggest *Happy End* (1999).
Thank you for the suggestion!
Call (2020)
Thank you for the suggestion!
A lot of solid recs in this thread - another lowkey one, a little more of a fable, still very thrilling and powerful and has Choi Min Sook - The Tiger(2015) - Burning - New World - The Host - Snowpiercer - Parasite - Memories of Murder - Thirst - Squid Game
Thank you for for the recommendation!
Train to Busan redifined the zombie genre
thirst
Thank you for for the recommendation!
Train to Busan without a doubt! Exhuma is a worthwhile new korean horror. Mimic is solid as well.
The Terror Live (2013) - Solid thriller where a radio show host is being held responsible for the lives of thousands of citizens as they try to fight against a mysterious caller sending bomb threats. The entire film takes place in a single building but mostly in the radio show room and gets very intense. It falls off in the third act, sadly. The Man Standing Next (2020) - A political thriller that is about a surprising true story about the assassination of the President of South Korea. There is a fictional side story included. The Age of Shadows (2016) - Probably the only Kim Jee Woon film I haven’t seen mentioned on the thread so far. Silenced (2011) - This may fit more in the drama category but it’s extremely disturbing because the film is about a true story. JSA (2000) - Classic mystery thriller about tensions between North and South. There were a few other great thrillers I wanted to recommend but they came out a year before the turn of the century [Shiri (1999) and Nowhere to Hide (1999)]
Thank you so much for your recommendations, I have added them, including the 1999 ones. I appreciate the time and detail you put into your response!
Decision to Leave is one of my all time favorites Exhuma is also amazing
Seems like you enjoy different genres, so I'll give you a few diverse ones. *On the more action oriented side* The City of Violence (2006) - A police detective teams up with a small time gangster to investigate the murder of a friend from their high school days. Starts off as a mystery thriller, becomes an action movie by the end. *More of a drama thriller* Breathless (2008) - A violent loan shark tries to deal with the memories of being abused as a kid. Not really any 'action scenes' per se, more of a character study. The main character is a criminal, but a petty one, and his crimes aren't the focus. *Kind of in-between* A Dirty Carnival (2006) - A petty criminal gains his boss' respect by committing an assassination, but gets in trouble when his filmmaker friend uses the murder as inspiration for a gangster film.
Thank you so much for your recommendations, I have added them. I also appreciate the time and detail you put into your response, so thank you muchly!
Haven't seen these mentioned. If I missed them apologies for double recommendations 1. Gonjiam Haunted Asylum (found footage but with a twist) 2. Thirst (vampire movie) 3. The Mimic (Creature feature/ Urban Legend)
Thank you for the recommendations. They had been mentioned before, but no need to apologize, I appreciate it regardless!
Kinda figured they had lol just wanted to make sure though.
Absolutely, and I appreciate you did!
The Call
Mother + The Host
I love both!
Definitely Decision to Leave but pretty much Park Chan-Wook’s whole filmography. JSA is also such a banger
Mother
I watched it last night, it is fantastic!
Since Train To Busan and Burning are already mentioned, I’ll throw in these two: -Ballerina (2023) thriller -The 8th Night (2021) horror
Thank you for the recommendations!
R-Point (2004) Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018) The Wishing Stairs (2003) Forgotten (2017) Antarctic Journal (2005) Acacia (2003) Red Eye (2005) The Red Shoes (2005)
Thank you for the suggestions! I've (only) seen Gonjiam (and thought it was above average)
Agreed on Forgotten
Squid game
Hackers
link? I couldn't find it
https://letterboxd.com/film/hackers/
Rage bait to not include Parasite.
It's not (rage) bait. To be honest, probably because of its more comedy-drama tones (than thiller), I completely spaced on including it.
I’m going to get hate for this, but squid game?