Official Trailer:
The plot revolves around an ex-cop turned pimp who gets in to a situation where his girls go missing. Initially he thinks they have left him. The last girl left her mobile in the car. Ex-cop tracks down the number of the caller who picked up the missing girls and they are from the same number. He can’t locate the address since the caller asks the girls pick him up in their car and drive to his place. Are they getting kidnapped and sold abroad? By the time he realizes this, another girl is already on her way to pick up the caller. He informs the girl to share the location once she reaches the destination. When the girl reaches the location, she realizes to her horror there is no reception. Ex-cop doesn’t know the exact address, but he knows the ballpark area based on parked car. From this point onwards, movie shifts gear and the chase start. As twist of events would have it, both the ex-cop and the serial killer get picked up by police for interrogation after they get in to minor fender bender. Serial killer confesses to the murders. Rather he confesses to more murders than what cops think – 12 vs 9. But he comes across as a lunatic / crazy person. They can’t get a warrant unless they can get evidence implicating him to the murders. This is classic Hitchcockian setup – we know the killer and there is no suspense there. Thrill comes from race against time – the cops have 12 hours to locate the bodies to get the warrant else killer will go free – ex-cop is running against time to locate the killer’s house and save the girl before it is too late.
The chases happen in real time. They run across dark narrow alleys, ups and downs, gasp for breath, slip and fall. There is sense of space and time. We can see they are really running because there are no quick cuts. Fights following the run are realistic – like 2 people trying to throw punches at each other catching their breath.
Typical of Korean films, things get violent. Let me just say killer’s tools of choice are hammer and chisel. The movie doesn’t get into killer’s motives except an opinion that gets thrown in about his possible psychological and physiological condition. Along with the chase, ex-cop’s transformation keeps us engaged. Initially the ex-cop doesn’t come across as a likeable character because of the way he treats his girls. He seems to care more about money than about them. As he slowly comprehends the evil he is up against, guilt engulfs him. Reality bites him more as he comes across the girl’s young daughter. He has to save the girl from the horrible situation he got her in and get them back together.
The police force comes across as inept. There is a parallel thread about the angry mayor who got shit thrown at him by a protester. Cops are shunted between angry mayor episode and the serial killer. They get the situation they are in, but from the portrayal they care more about saving their positions and public image than committing the full force to locate the house where the victim is held. Maybe there is a Korean political undercurrent that I missed.
There are few convenient coincidences, but they are minor and can be ignored (or explained away). The Chaser is well made, powerful and gripping thriller with powerful performances from the two key lead actors – ex-cop and the serial killer 👏