I see many people frustrated because people around didn't help the girl. Well there are several points to be clarified: First of all, in South-Korea most people don't help those in trouble on the street, because they often get blamed. There have been many cases of people who stopped to help those in distress and found themselves being charged because they were believed to be the culprits. And yes, people definitely saw the scared girl or the man covered in blood, however I repeat that so many people try to mind their own business so they don't get into trouble. It's frustrating I know and that's exactly why I think this film was a complaint to how people behave in these cases.
Second of all, it exists the bystander effect, also referred to as bystander apathy or the witness effect: this is a phenomenon in social psychology that refers to cases where individuals offer no help to a person in distress, in an emergency situation, when other people are also present. The probability of intervention is inversely related to the number of onlookers. In other words, the greater the number of bystanders, the lower the probability that any of them will render help. Several variables are involved in determining the bystander effect. They include ambiguity, social cohesion and diffusion of responsibility. This does not make us bad people; simply when certain incidents occur, we are inclined to see what others do before we intervene.
Then the fact that she couldn't speak is actually a point against her. Try to think about who the killers are: they are deeply disturbed, narcissistic and manipulative people. The fact that she was deaf and unable to speak properly made it all the more amusing for him: She was trying to communicate, but no one understood her; he was elated, especially because then he could be an actor like he has never been before. That's why I find the film very realistic and especially provocative. I still break a lance in favor of those who criticize the film, because indeed the policemen were not that smart.
As for "the cat-to-mouse chase", I didn't find it wrong. The girl several times was caught by the killer, however, one thing that stood out from the beginning was that she was smart. Plus unlike the victims, she knew about him and in fact he never managed to sneak up on her except once. I don't know what to add except that probably in her situation I would not have known what to do and would have been killed instantly. Plus many choices she made were to try to protect her mother.
As for the character who was the brother of one of the victims, I basically understand and forgive him... Would you sacrifice your sister to protect a stranger or would you sacrifice a stranger to save your sister? It ain't so easy for anyone. Clearly the killer was lying, but when you are desperate and you love someone so much, what chance do you actually have? And even if he caught him, he already knew that he would never reveal to him where his sister was.
The music was undoubtedly flawless. I madly loved the "silent moments" and when suddenly something would pop out, because for a few seconds it was like I was living in the girl's shoes.
In conclusion, i must have a sort of trauma, 'cause pussy was clenching through out the whole movie, no lie.
They should stop casting hot actors as psychopaths. I can't handle it, but at the same time i don't mind *COUGH*