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Memories of Murder
By Stefan Pape,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Modern Korean classic has adult themes, sexual violence.

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Memories of Murder
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Based on 2 parent reviews
Riveting, quiet, and desperate...
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What's the Story?
MEMORIES OF MURDER is set in a small Korean province in 1986, where multiple women are found killed. Detective Park Doo-man (Kang-ho Song) is heading up the investigation, and is joined by Detective Seo Tae-yoon (Kim Sang-kyung) to help find the elusive murderer. But the brutality extends into the investigation itself, as the desperation of the police force sees them torturing potential suspects as they strive tirelessly to find the killer -- before he strikes again.
Is It Any Good?
This crime drama from 2003 is one of Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho's (Parasite) most accomplished pieces. Memories of Murder is an unsettling production with an atmosphere that lingers long after the credits roll. Now this may sound like a deterrent, but it's far from it, as this film offers a rewarding watch to the patient viewer, and a fascinating, albeit candid and pessimistic study of the human psyche.
The movie harps back to classic film noirs of old, while there are shades of David Fincher in there too. In films of that nature often comes an antihero; the troubled cop, a loose cannon with outdated methods -- a familiar cinematic portrayal. Yet while Bong implements this conventional protagonist, he still manages to layer the character with nuance. And so, despite everything, you find yourself rooting for this very detective, in spite of his often vile behavior. This is of course in large part thanks to actor -- and regular Bong collaborator -- Kang-ho Song. A good performance will do that, and this performance is a great one.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Memories of Murder's violence. Did you find it difficult to sit through? How did it make you feel? Which scenes did you find most shocking? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
Discuss the strong language used. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
How was sex portrayed in the movie? Was it affectionate? Respectful? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
Detective Park is a flawed and brutal cop who lacks a moral compass at times. Despite this, did you find yourself rooting for him anyway? Why do you think that was?
Have you seen much Korean cinema? How did this movie compare?
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 15, 2005
- On DVD or streaming: July 24, 2017
- Cast: Kang-ho Song , Roe-ha Kim , Sang-kyung Kim
- Director: Joon-ho Bong
- Studio: Palm Pictures
- Genre: Thriller
- Run time: 132 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: April 22, 2023
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