Top 10 Korean Thriller Movies Of All Time Till 2023

By Nida Naaz Jul 3, 2023, 12:59 IST

While Hollywood and Westernised ideals dominate the global film industry, several other film industries are breaking through to the global stage. Korean films are an example of this, with their films being masterfully crafted and often unpredictable, laced with folklore that gives way to films that bend traditional genres and take their audiences on psychological journeys that explore the darker sides of the human experience.

Here is the list of the top 10 Korean Thriller Movies of all time.

  1. Carter (2022)

Carter is an action-thriller about a virus that causes infected people to become violent and zombie-like. A man (Joo Won) awakens in a motel with a cross-shaped scar on the back of his head, where CIA agents demand that he reveal the location of Dr. Jung Byung-Ho (Jung Jae-young). Carter manages to flee, and Han Jung-Hee (Jeong So-ri) reveals that he was sent to find the cured Ha-na (Kim Bo-min), Jung Byung-Ho's missing daughter. Carter is a futuristic-style movie with incredible stunts, violence, and a fast-paced plot that reflects the pandemic-type world experienced in recent years and cannot help but leave a feeling of unease.

  1. Confession (2022)

Min-Ho's (So Ji-sub) lover is discovered dead in a hotel, and Min-Ho is the prime suspect because the room was locked from the inside. With no evidence of an intruder, the character flees to an isolated cabin to meet with Shin-Ae (Kim Yunjin), a case-winning detective. Shin-Ae asks Min-Ho to recount the events leading up to the victim's death throughout the night. Confession deftly examines how perspective can shift when confronted with the true intentions, lies, and twists of Min-Ho's story. Events unfold in a variety of ways as his story is repeatedly punctured, prompting a complex account of events and leaving the audience to wonder where the truth actually lies.

  1. Midnight (2021)

A woman and her mother (Hae-yeon Kil and Ki-joo Jin) unintentionally interrupt one of Do-Shik's (Wi Ha-joon) murders. When they go to the police, they have no idea that Do-Shik is the murderer, who begins stalking them and playing a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with them, determined to eliminate them. Do-Shik carefully manipulates and exploits Kyung Mi's deafness, smirking and laughing as he enjoys toying with his victims while staying one step ahead. Kyung Mi's character highlights the realities that people face in society when they struggle to be understood, while Squid Game's Wi Ha-Joon gives an exceptionally chilling performance as killer Do-Shik.

  1. The Cursed: Dead Man's Prey 

The Cursed: Dead Man's Prey is a supernatural thriller film based on the 2020 drama The Cursed. Shamans in this universe have the ability to reanimate the dead in order to exact revenge. The film begins with a murder committed by a reanimated corpse. While on a radio show, an investigative journalist receives a call and requests to be interviewed on camera, claiming to be the murderer. He announces three more murders, and an army of reanimated corpses appears and attacks. Yeon Sang-Ho's film is a creepy, action-packed ride with layers of mystery, horror, and crime.

  1. Lucid Dream (2017)

Lucid Dream follows a father who is desperate to find his son, who has been missing for three years. Dae-Ho (Go Soo) believes it was one of the corrupt enemies he made while investigating them. Dae-Ho learns of a new therapy that allows patients to relive their memories through lucid dreams while the case remains unsolved. He runs into an old friend, So-hyun (Kang Hye-jeong), who administers the therapy. When he locates the prime suspect, he discovers that not everything is as it appears. Lucid Dream is similar to the film Inception, which inspired writer Kim Joon-Sung. Lucid Dream shows how far a person will go to find a missing loved one, even if the method is dangerous.

  1. Hwa-Yi: A Monster Boy 

Hwa-Yi: A Monster Boy tells the story of a group of five men who kidnap an infant. The group, which includes a charismatic leader, a driving expert, a planner, a firearms expert, and a martial artist, raises the boy, who is now known as Hwa-Yi (Yeo Jin-gu). After his first murder, Hwa-Yi discovers his five fathers' secret and vows vengeance. Hwa-Yi: A Monster Boy is an intensely dark revenge K-drama that manages to capture a gentler side of Hwa-Yi's relationship with his fathers. The film raises questions about relationships with others, both those built and those born into.

  1. I Saw the Devil (2010)

I Saw the Devil, one of South Korea's best, is an almost flawless revenge film guaranteed to disturb viewers. It tells the story of a secret agent (Lee Byung-hun) who uses a series of captures and releases to exact revenge on a serial killer. Despite its shocking graphic violence (not recommended for the faint of heart), I Saw the Devil is a highly addictive feature that will instantly bind the audience's eyes to their screens due to its captivating narrative. It's also a very stylish and terrifying film.

  1. Burning (2018)

Burning, a South Korean psychological thriller starring Steven Yeun, Jeon Jong-seo, and Yoo Ah-In, follows deliveryman Jongsu as he runs into a girl who used to live in his neighbourhood and asks him to look after his cat while she is away. When Jongsu arrives, he is introduced to a mysterious man named Ben, who tells him about his strange hobby. Lee Chang-dong's impressive feature employs a number of metaphors throughout and is a thought-provoking film. Aside from great performances, this slow-burn thriller film has a highly captivating premise that will linger in viewers' minds for a long time after they watch it.

  1. The Wailing (2016)

A mysterious Japanese stranger arrives in a small village in the South Korean mountains in The Wailing, and soon after, an unusual infection breaks out, causing the villagers to become violent. Jong-Goo (Kwak Do-won), a police officer, is drawn in to save his daughter from the virulent disease. Meanwhile, Jong-Goo's mother-in-law seeks the assistance of a local shaman, who reveals that his daughter has been possessed by an evil spirit. The Wailing is a film that encompasses many genres; it is a psychological thriller, mystery, horror, black magic, and demonic film that has been written spectacularly, with many well-cast actors who performed expertly in their roles.

  1. Forgotten (2017)

A mysterious Japanese stranger arrives in a small village in the South Korean mountains in The Wailing, and soon after, an unusual infection breaks out, causing the villagers to become violent. Jong-Goo (Kwak Do-won), a police officer, is drawn in to save his daughter from the virulent disease. Meanwhile, Jong-Goo's mother-in-law seeks the assistance of a local shaman, who reveals that his daughter has been possessed by an evil spirit. The Wailing is a film that encompasses many genres; it is a psychological thriller, mystery, horror, black magic, and demonic film that has been written spectacularly, with many well-cast actors who performed expertly in their roles.