Blu-ray Collection
A Bloodthirsty Killer(1965)
A Bloodthirsty Killer is the 29th Blu-ray title planned by the Korean Film Archive and produced by Blue Kino. The film was forgotten in the history of Korean cinema for a long time, but recently it was rediscovered by Korean cinema researchers, critics and film enthusiasts. It is now not only recognized as a masterpiece of early Korean horror films, but also the film that laid the foundations for those Korean horror films that followed later. A noteworthy fact is this film is the first addition extra to the Blu-ray lineup consisting of 100 films selected by the archive in 2013.
A Bloodthirsty Killer was never properly x-evaluated in the history of Korean cinema. This is because there has been the practice of Canon and auteur-centered writing of Korean cinema history, and there has always been a tradition that the horror genre itself is understated as B-class. As critics and film fans have gained more interest in the history of Korean cinema, gem-like diverse films started to be discovered in addition to the existing Cannons, and A Bloodthirsty Killer is one of the outcomes. The film is considered a noteworthy work today due to its aesthetic achievement beyond being simply an early work in the horror film genre or providing a model for later Korean horror conventions; a female grudge and the character returning as a ghost. While the peculiar atmosphere created with the combination of the claustrophobic image weighing heavily on protagonist, Si-mok (Lee Yea-chun) arriving at an empty gallery after an exhibition has finished, editing and unusual sound captures the viewer’s eyes and ears at the beginning of the film, a chain of incomprehensible events occurring one after another pulls the viewer right into the world of the film. Most of all, the confrontation between Mrs. Huh (Jeong Ae-ran), who is possessed by the spirit of a cat, and her son, Si-mok, who notices her mother’s true identity, is considered one of the best scenes in the history of Korean cinema. The masterly performances from seasoned actors of the time, including Lee Yea-chun, Do Kum-bong and Lee Bin-hwa, breathe life into the film, which is also worthy of note. In particular, the acting of Jeong Ae-ran, who portrays various aspects of a benign grandmother, a ferocious mother-in-law, a bewitching lover, and a ghost possessed by a cat, is breathtaking.
Film critic and director, Chung Sung-ill provides the commentary. His extensive knowledge of Korean cinema history and his original interpretation of the film provide a fascinating addition that makes the viewer see the film from a completely new perspective. The introduction to the director and the review of the film written by film critic Jang Byung-won offer a wider understanding of A Bloodthirsty Killer and director Lee Yong-min. The images on the Blu-ray were sourced from the restored version in 4K resolution, which was completed by the archive in 2021. The outstanding beauty of the images, which were reborn through restoration, provide an opportunity for us to reassess this Korean film from the 1960s once again. On the Blu-ray, postcards of the confrontation scene of Si-mok and Mrs. Huh in Lenticular image are included as a supplement.
A Bloodthirsty Killer was never properly x-evaluated in the history of Korean cinema. This is because there has been the practice of Canon and auteur-centered writing of Korean cinema history, and there has always been a tradition that the horror genre itself is understated as B-class. As critics and film fans have gained more interest in the history of Korean cinema, gem-like diverse films started to be discovered in addition to the existing Cannons, and A Bloodthirsty Killer is one of the outcomes. The film is considered a noteworthy work today due to its aesthetic achievement beyond being simply an early work in the horror film genre or providing a model for later Korean horror conventions; a female grudge and the character returning as a ghost. While the peculiar atmosphere created with the combination of the claustrophobic image weighing heavily on protagonist, Si-mok (Lee Yea-chun) arriving at an empty gallery after an exhibition has finished, editing and unusual sound captures the viewer’s eyes and ears at the beginning of the film, a chain of incomprehensible events occurring one after another pulls the viewer right into the world of the film. Most of all, the confrontation between Mrs. Huh (Jeong Ae-ran), who is possessed by the spirit of a cat, and her son, Si-mok, who notices her mother’s true identity, is considered one of the best scenes in the history of Korean cinema. The masterly performances from seasoned actors of the time, including Lee Yea-chun, Do Kum-bong and Lee Bin-hwa, breathe life into the film, which is also worthy of note. In particular, the acting of Jeong Ae-ran, who portrays various aspects of a benign grandmother, a ferocious mother-in-law, a bewitching lover, and a ghost possessed by a cat, is breathtaking.
Film critic and director, Chung Sung-ill provides the commentary. His extensive knowledge of Korean cinema history and his original interpretation of the film provide a fascinating addition that makes the viewer see the film from a completely new perspective. The introduction to the director and the review of the film written by film critic Jang Byung-won offer a wider understanding of A Bloodthirsty Killer and director Lee Yong-min. The images on the Blu-ray were sourced from the restored version in 4K resolution, which was completed by the archive in 2021. The outstanding beauty of the images, which were reborn through restoration, provide an opportunity for us to reassess this Korean film from the 1960s once again. On the Blu-ray, postcards of the confrontation scene of Si-mok and Mrs. Huh in Lenticular image are included as a supplement.
Subtitles: Korean, English, and Japanese
Screen: 1080P FULL HD 16:9
Audio: Korean LPCM Mono
Rated 15: Ages over 15 admitted.
Special Features
- Commentary: Chung Sung-ill(Director & Film Critic)
- Digital Restoration: Before & After
Booklet
- "An Invisible Man in the History of Korean Cinema: Director Lee Yong-min", Jang Byung-won(DMZ International Documentary Film Festival Programmer)
- “The Birth of Korean-style Horror Films: A Bloodthirsty Killer”, Jang Byung-won
Screen: 1080P FULL HD 16:9
Audio: Korean LPCM Mono
Rated 15: Ages over 15 admitted.
Special Features
- Commentary: Chung Sung-ill(Director & Film Critic)
- Digital Restoration: Before & After
Booklet
- "An Invisible Man in the History of Korean Cinema: Director Lee Yong-min", Jang Byung-won(DMZ International Documentary Film Festival Programmer)
- “The Birth of Korean-style Horror Films: A Bloodthirsty Killer”, Jang Byung-won