Memories of Murder | Blu-ray (Criterion)
RELEASE DATE: April 20, 2021
On April 20, 2021, Criterion Collection is releasing the Blu-ray & DVD for Memories of Murder, a 2003 thriller from acclaimed filmmaker Bong Joon-Ho (Parasite, Snowpiercer) that stars Song Kang Ho (The Drug King) and Kim Sang Kyung (Tale of Cinema).
Read the official details below:
In his breakthrough second feature, Bong Joon Ho explodes the conventions of the policier with thrillingly subversive, genre-defying results. Based on the true story of a string of serial killings that rocked a rural community in the 1980s, Memories of Murder stars New Korean Cinema icon Song Kang Ho as the local officer who reluctantly joins forces with a seasoned Seoul detective (Kim Sang Kyung) to investigate the crimes—leading each man on a wrenching, yearslong odyssey of failure and frustration that will drive him to the existential edge. Combining a gripping procedural with a vivid social portrait of the everyday absurdity of life under military rule, Bong fashions a haunting journey into ever-deepening darkness that begins as a black-comic satire and ends as a soul-shattering encounter with the abyss.
Features and Specs:
- NEW 4K RESTORATION OF THE FILM, supervised by cinematographer Kim Hyung Ku and approved by director Bong Joon Ho, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
- Two 2009 commentaries featuring Bong and members of the cast and crew, plus a new commentary featuring critic Tony Rayns
- New program featuring filmmaker Guillermo del Toro
- New interview with Bong about the real-life serial killer who inspired the film
- Documentary from 2004 on the making of the film
- Deleted scenes, with optional audio commentary by Bong
- New program about the use of sound in Bong’s work, featuring film scholar Jeff Smith
- Incoherence, a 1994 student film by Bong, with a new introduction by the director
- Teaser, trailer, and TV spot
- PLUS: An essay by critic and novelist Ed Park
Pre-order from Amazon.com today!
The recent UK release was a lazy cash-in. I will be springing for this release and it looks like it will be a release that a masterpiece deserves.
Tony Rayns does excellent commentaries.
I am thrilled they will be addressing the real killer who has finally been caught. This is one of those you-can’t-make-this-up type movies where, almost 20 years after its made, there are headlines about it again, bringing the true story full circle. I am not going to lie; this one haunted me ever since I saw it and I would periodically do google searches to see what, if anything, came up. When I finally hit on something last year, I could not believe it. It truly captured my soul as very true movies and true stories ever have.
It’s good that it’s getting proper western Blu Ray release, really looking forward to this one.
FINALLY! I was looking around for this movie for AGES, especially after watching Parasite! I already have the criterion version of that movie, and now I have another to add to my collection! I heard that this was based on a true story as well. I can’t wait to do a double feature of BOTH movies!