Today’s quick review: Confession of Murder. Fifteen years after Lt. Choi Hyung-gu (Jung Jae-young) failed to catch a serial killer, Lee Doo-suk (Park Si-hoo) releases a best-selling memoir confessing to the crimes. With the statute of limitations expired, Choi can only watch as Lee basks in the publicity. Meanwhile, Han Ji-soo (Kim Young-ae) and the other family members of the victims hatch a plan to take justice into their own hands.
Confession of Murder is a Korean action thriller about a serial killer who goes public with his crimes. Lt. Choi must find a way to get at Lee—or prove he is a fraud—to have any hope of closing the case and easing his conscience. Confession of Murder features a unique setup that leads to some interesting late-game developments. However, misplaced action, an uneven tone, and a few weak points with its plot make it only a mixed success.
Confession of Murder gets a lot of mileage out of its premise. Early on, the story is short on substance. Lee manipulates the media while Choi stews and Han schemes. But once the movie has all of its pieces in place, it takes on a new life. The details of the murders, the fate of the last victim, and Lee’s highly public confession all come together for a satisfying finale.
The catch is that Confession of Murder takes an odd tack when it comes to its tone. The core of the story is quite serious, with Choi haunted by his inability to bring the killer to justice. But odd bits of comedy and over-the-top action sequences keep the story from having the weight it should. Confession of Murder’s premise is a natural fit for something more cerebral, yet the movie tosses in flashy action whenever it gets the chance.
The result is a movie that is entertaining but hard to pin down. Those willing to roll with the punches should give Confession of Murder a shot. It has a premise that bears fruit in the end, and the action is choreographed well, even if it is a debatable fit for the story. Those looking for a darker and more deliberate mystery may want to look elsewhere.
For a much darker thriller about a serial killer that explores some of the same questions, try Se7en. For one man’s search for the truth behind a popular book, try Ghost Writer. For a drama about a media frenzy, try Mad City. For an action thriller that strikes a similar tonal balance but with more flair, try Face/Off.
[7.1 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2468774/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for a solid plot handled in an odd way.