Blood Rain (2005) User Reviews (6)

Enjoyable period murder mystery

[refresh_daemon · 7/10 · 30 March 2009]

Blood Rain is director Kim Daeseung's second feature, a serial killer/murder mystery set on an island in 1808 Corea. Keeping some of the director's trademarks (flashbacks and strong photography), the film tells a tale about collective guilt and vengeance while drawing you in with its sometimes gruesome flash and well told mystery.

The story starts on an island in early 19th century Corea, where an arson is suspected, drawing a group of mainland government investigators to solve the mystery. But then a murder happens and the investigator gets drawn into the mystery of what happened on that island in the living past all while trying to catch the criminal and keep the populace alive and at peace.

The story is well spun and the reveal at the end (it's a mystery after all) comes as a surprise, although I suppose if I were far more attentive, I would have caught it before the reveal, which is a great hallmark of mysteries. The nice thing is that the flashbacks are used more towards filling in character and thematic elements rather than as a "gotcha!" for the most part, so it doesn't feel too gratuitous. As a suspense/mystery, the story is engaging and entertaining. The only issue I take is with a supernatural element in the film--while it's woven much better into this film than into Shadows in the Palace--the supernatural element still feels extraneous: it's not at all necessary for the tale to work well, especially as a device to tie some other strands of the story together.

The picture is well composed and I have to say that I was quite struck by the costumes and art surrounding the period element of the film. While the film does show some rather brutal deaths, I can still say that the photography was, on the whole, still something for the eyes to see. The performances were all well rendered, the sound and music contribute and the production values are very solid. I remember watching this in the theater in Corea and while I had some problems understanding what was going on (some of the more formal dialect of Corean, I haven't yet mastered), I could say that I wasn't bored at all.

One thing that I really liked about this film is that it was really easy to understand the antagonist, while still knowing that what he was doing (murder) was wrong and how the film doesn't at all make this seem contrived. Blood Rain is a fairly solid murder mystery/suspense piece and the period setting really adds a lot to the film. If you can ingest or ignore the supernatural element of the film, you'll find a rather entertaining ride of a film here. 8/10.

A cleverly constructed murder mystery, amplified by a unique setting: 1808 Korea

[Schwenkstar · 7/10 · 23 February 2007]

This period murder mystery is very reminiscent of the Sean Connery film "The Name of the Rose", which was also a period murder mystery. That film's quality, though flawed, was immensely amplified by its locale (a monastery in medieval Europe) which is indeed a rare setting for the mystery genre. In this film, we find a similar circumstance: a good but flawed mystery that is greatly aided by its thoroughly original surroundings (in this case, 1808 Korea).

The mystery itself is, on the whole, cleverly constructed. The film opens with a series of incidences that seem, at first, to be unrelated to one another. However, as the story progresses, it is revealed that these events are outgrowths of one another.

The plot is also very devious in manipulating the audience, leading the viewer to believe one thing, only to subvert that assumption and reveal what is truly occurring. These red herrings does not cheat the viewer since they are entirely logical and, upon a second viewing, completely obvious if one only watched the scenes in the correct frame of mind. Indeed, the cleverness of the plot is what hooks the viewer and keeps him watching.

Yet all the threads do not tie together as effectively as they could; indeed, the narrative's last events is where the film stumbles. Here, the plot begins to introduce too many new elements, which only complicates and confuses the narrative rather than layer it with complexity. In addition, the film's final revelation, though not obvious, is a small disappointment due to the plot not effectively building upon the killer's character, and thus seems slightly random. It is only after the revelation that his motivations and background is explained.

*Very slight spoiler in the next statement*

Another major debit is the introduction of a supernatural element at the film's denouement that is out of tone with the rest of the film. This element appeared to be haphazard in its inclusion, since the rest of the narrative doesn't really support this event. If this small scene simply was omitted, the film would have ended on a much satisfactory note.

*End of spoiler*

Regardless, the film was very good overall, thanks to a stellar first hour that really envelops the audience in its mystery and genuinely surprises the viewer with each revelation.

And one cannot ignore its totally unique setting. Never have I seen a film that focused on such a time period in Korea, nor have I seen a film that presented the manufacturing of paper in such detail. All these touches really add an air of originality to the proceedings, perhaps presenting the film better than it really is. Luckily, this lush locale is reinforced by an intelligent script that, though imperfect, manages to integrate the elements of the period brilliantly into its story.

Essential to those who love period mysteries and a high recommendation to those interested in the mystery genre as a whole. To everyone else, a solid rental.

Intelligent suspenseful serial murder hunt set in medieval Korea..

[joebloggscity · 8/10 · 9 May 2006]

The past couple of years have seen a slew of Korean film being released which has helped to rocket their industry to be amongst the best in the world. All though have been based in the present depicting a modern country.

"Blood Rain" on the other hand is a diversion, a film set at the tail-end of medieval Korea surrounding the murder hunt of a serial killer by a govt detective. The murders follow a grim pattern relating to events from 7 years earlier, with each victim being an informant to the execution of a man. The village folk sense revengeful ghosts (the constant theme in Asian cinema nowadays!), and it is up to the detective to prove them right or wrong.

As ever the direction is beautiful, the acting is grand, but the storyline is the main crutch of this film, being intelligent and getting away from a teen-aimed market for a change. Takes elements of Ms Marple for the detective but then again it takes Tarantino in the deaths, however it is its own film. The only flaw I think is that as good as it is, it is no classic but not every film can be.

Highly enjoyable, and entertaining film (and educational even too) and you will not be disappointed.

An extraordinary thriller

[pb104-1 · 10/10 · 18 January 2006]

Also known as "Blood Rain," this Korean murder mystery is one of the most powerful and dramatic costume dramas I have ever seen. Taking place in the Chosun Dynasty (which looks like the late 1700s although no date is specified), it concerns an isolated island which prospers due to its famous paper factory which exports fine papers throughout the region. When a ship loaded with top grade paper as a tribute to the mainland ruler burns in the harbor, an official is dispatched from the Court to investigate. What he encounters is a string of increasingly gruesome murders and a town beginning to panic, believing that an angry spirit is causing the deaths. But there are wheels within wheels, and the execution of the mill owner years before may be related to the murders. And there are other secrets deeply hidden in the town's past as well. With stunning production values, fine acting and relentless pacing, Blood Rain is a mesmerizing thriller, a mystery that continually deepens as the story progresses. Fast-paced and exciting, it develops a dynamic power rarely equaled in cinema. Korean dramas are known for intensity and this film is no exception. Some violent scenes may upset the squeamish, but they are essential to the story and by no means gratuitous. Hopefully this powerful film will secure an American release. 10/10

Animal lovers beware!

[niallmurphy-30051 · 1/10 · 14 April 2023]

If you are an animal lover and you are thinking of watching this film I would advise you to avoid watching this film at all cost as there is a scene a bit past the halfway point of the film where some real chickens are beheaded while the poor things are still alive!

Now that warning is out of the way I would like to say that the film itself is an extremely boring film with a very weak storyline, appalling acting and terrible direction.

How this massive waste of one hundred and fifty nine minutes ever got made is more of a mystery then the film itself.

Do not waste your time watching this rubbish film!

Surprisingly good

[andriy-tanatar · 8/10 · 4 June 2006]

On an isolated island, a horrific fire and a mysterious murder break the usual way of life. The victim died in the same way as the son of an executed Catholic, so the locals are scared to death that the ghost of the dead start taking its evil toll...

What could have been a start for yet another awful Japanese horror movie or an overtly-long, boring and unrealistic Chinese epic actually happens in the first 10 minutes of a great Korean picture. Despite the fact that the movie is set in 19th century Korea, the movie itself could have easily been shot about France or the USA (with appropriate time adjustment) - and, frankly, would the Americans want to shoot a remake they would need to change surprisingly little as the film is very European in its style. Surprisingly, the authors find a lot of room not only for suspense, but for a very deep study of the fear, the guilt and the responsibility in a very clear, articulate way.

To put it short: if you watch Asian movies for more than fake kung-fu and surreal jumping action, you should definitely see this one. It's much better than most of the things that went out this year in the USA.