Devils is a 2023 South Korean crime thriller, written and directed by Kim Jae-Hoon in his first feature-length work. The film stars Jang Dong-yoon (Project Wolf Hunting), Jae-ho Jang (The Spies Who Loved Me), and Choi Gwi-hwa (Train to Busan).
After his brother-in-law is murdered at the hands of a vicious ring of serial killers, homicide detective Jae-hwan, is more determined than ever to bring these cold-blooded murderers to justice. However, after he finds himself inhabiting the body of one of the criminals after an accidental tumble, will he be able to bring these psychopaths to justice and keep his family safe?
Beginning at a breakneck speed, Devils provides minimal exposition from its inception—choosing to purposefully drip-feed its story elements to the audience over the entire film. While this propels the viewers head-first into the action, it additionally maintains a consistent level of dramatic tension with its breathless mix of grisly violence and an ever-evolving game of cat-and-mouse. The implementation of its body-swapping narrative features a subtle introduction to the story (less Freaky Friday and more Face/Off), delivering a less fantastical and more grounded scenario overall.
Delivering a sharply-honed narrative full of unexpected twists, Devils shows a significant level of skill from the first-time writer/director. Distributing a compelling blend of brutality and manipulation, the film certainly keeps the audience on tenterhooks until the very end.
Whilst the film begins with scenes full of technical camera work, Devils instead implements a more standard level of cinematography throughout the majority of its runtime. Although this isn’t necessarily a negative, the beginning sets somewhat of a president that feels abandoned after its introduction and would have been positive to have seen more expressive camerawork in certain scenes.
Despite this, the film does feature an impeccable use of colour throughout. Drenching scenes in a chroma of primary colours, this heavy level of tinting undoubtedly aids in denoting a scene’s tone. Additionally, the use of UV lighting and neon paints creates a stylish means to self-censor some of its more gruesome scenes without sacrificing their shocking nature.
Both Oh Dae-hwan and Jang Dong-yoon give an incredible performance in their dual roles as Jae-hwan and Min-seong Kim, each being able to incorporate vastly different personalities into their performance at the drop of a hat as they alternate between. However, it’s Jang Dong-yoon that provides the standout performance of the film. Delivering an overtly robust portrayal of a psychotic killer, taking bountiful glee from the suffering of both himself and others.
An incredibly chaotic romp into the crime thriller genre, Devils delivers a thrillingly engrossing experience that is sure to keep the audience guessing until the credits roll. With its anfractuous narrative, marvelous performances, and stylish visuals, the film delivers an atypical story of revenge that’s sure to captivate the audience with its lust for barbarity, mystery, and suspense.
Devils (2023) is available to watch exclusively on Screambox here (US only)
More Film Reviews
I didn’t really have a whole lot going during my high school years. I went to class and did stupid hijinks with my friends, but I mostly just watched movies… “Czech Karel Kopfrkingl enjoys his job at a crematorium in the late 1930s. He likes reading the Tibetan book of the dead, and espouses the view that cremation relieves earthly… Witness protection isn’t enough to keep a mother and her young daughter safe, as the vigilantes hunting them down catch up to the pair. They want a confession the mother… Sparked by the death of her partner Noah, Lilith is struggling with her mental health and has succumbed to a deep depression that affects all aspects of her life. Fighting… A school trip to get back to nature for extra credit goes very wrong, very fast. A group of students gets in an accident after their bus hits someone, or… This Halloween certainly offered up more spooky offerings than usual. Some of the terrible things involve ghastly treats for children, witch hunters looking for victims to torture and burn, and…Baby Assassins (2021) Film Review – Moe Moe Kyun!
The Cremator (1969) Film Review – Born Wicked
Motherly (2021) Film Review – Don’t underestimate a mother’s love
The Awakening of Lilith (2021) Film Review – The Excruciating Weight of Loss
Unhuman (2022) Film Review – The Breakfast Club vs Zombies
Three Dead Trick or Treaters (2016) Review – An Elegy for the Mad God of a Chaotic and Nihilistic Universe
Hey there, I’m Jim and I’m located in London, UK. I am a Writer and Managing Director here at Grimoire of Horror. A lifelong love of horror and writing has led me down this rabbit hole, allowing me to meet many amazing people and experience some truly original artwork. I specialise in world cinema, manga/graphic novels, and video games but will sometime traverse into the unknown in search of adventure.