It turns out that Young-min is a serial killer, and Young-min is bound and assaulted before she can signal Joong-ho. Young-min also murders two visitors inquiring about the owner of Young-min's house, Mr. Park, whom Young-min has likely also murdered. Young-min steals their car with plans to abandon it at a reasonable distance.
In a coincidence that could only happen in a movie, Joong-ho, already searching for Mi-Jin, collides with Young-min's car and soon realizes he is holding Mi-jin. The two fight, and both are arrested. Because it is a movie, Young-min volunteers he is a mass-murderer yet won't reveal key information that will prove his guilt. The police and Joong-ho use conflicting and contentious tactics to nail Young-min and locate Mi-jin. Joong-ho also learns that Mi-jin has a preteenaged daughter, Eun-ji (Yoo-Jeong Kim).
How others will see it. This movie was initially mostly ignored in the West, but it received three nominations at the Asian Film Awards. The video release has quickly earned a strong international following. The imdb.com user ratings are high and show only a slight decline with increasing age of the viewer. Interestingly, given that the movie is a violent crime drama, women give the film higher grades than do men, in all age groups. Perhaps they enjoy the multiple scenes in which Joong-ho assaults the detestable Young-min.
How I felt about it. This is a compelling, engrossing movie. It is well directed, well written, well acted, and well cast. Hollywood would be proud to call this movie their own, and given the money that Hollywood can offer, don't be surprised if first-time director Hong-jin Na is soon working for a major studio.
The problem is that the story holds together poorly. I've already complained about Joong-ho's car accident with Young-min and identifying him as the man holding Mi-jin. I've mentioned that Young-min would never readily admit to having seen the prostitutes, much less volunteering that he killed them. But this is only the tip of the iceberg.
How does Joong-ho avoid jail? He commits many, many acts that should land him there. Why would he take Eun-ji with him? Why isn't he armed for his final confrontation with Young-min? Why would the police release Young-min, instead of holding him on a different charge, such as auto theft? Why would a cop tail Young-min to the convenience store, but not follow him when he leaves? Doesn't Joong-ho ever sleep? Or tire? How likely is it that Young-min would learn from the store owner that Mi-jin is there? And wouldn't he leave immediately, since police are due any moment? Can't Mi-jin even try to defend herself?
There is also the matter of character. Is Joong-ho a corrupt man concerned only with money? That is who is he at the beginning of the movie. Or is he a man determined to save Mi-jin's life, even at the risk of his own life? That's who is is at film's end. I can't reconcile the two different characters.
One also has to comment that it is bad enough to be impotent without any implication that this would transform you into a serial killer. If a woman is infertile, does she attempt to murder babies?
But while the movie doesn't hold together, and has a couple of sour plot twists, there is no denying its ability to enthrall audiences.