Review by Gary Tooze

 

Production:

Theatrical: Korean Film Council

Video: Well Go USA!

 

Disc:

Region: 'A' (as verified by the Momitsu region FREE Blu-ray player)

Runtime: 1:55:49.817

Disc Size: 24,935,598,148 bytes

Feature Size: 22,269,026,304 bytes

Video Bitrate: 20.00 Mbps

Chapters: 12

Case: Standard Blu-ray case

Release date: October 9th, 2012

 

Video:

Aspect ratio: 2.35:1

Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps

Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Audio:

DTS-HD Master Audio Korean 4006 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 4006 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Dolby Digital Audio Korean 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps / DN -4dB

 

Subtitles:

English (SDH), none

 

Extras:

• Behind the Scenes (12:45)

• Trailer (1:36)

 

Bitrate:

 

 

Description: Hae-won (Seong-won Ji) is a woman on the edge: a series of incidents at work earn her a forced vacation, but when she travels to a remote island from a childhood visit, at the urgent request of her friend Kim Bok-nam (Yeong-hie Seo), she has no idea what devils of the past are waiting.

Moo-do Island is an unpleasant place to visit, and you definitely don t want to live there. Bok-nam is crumbling under a weight of violence, sexual menace, and fear with no means of escaping her tormentors. The vengeful rage that waits inside her is growing, and her sanity shredding. If Hae-won can t help her escape, she may have to take matters into her own hands, once and for all.

 

 

The Film:

BEDEVILLLED is South Korean director Cheol-soo Jang's feature length debut and it carried quite a punch, scratch that, think more a sledge hammer to the privates. At the end of day; BEDEVILLED was a two part experience. For the first half; it was all about good hearted and almost childlike Bok-Nam (brilliantly played Seo Yeong-Hie whom I fell in love with) being verbally and physically abused by her jerk of a husband (that actor owned as the evil hubby, can't find his name anywhere) and the female town elders (they will be referred as the old cunts from now on) while her so called friend Hye-Won keeps being a selfish bitch, doing nothing to help. The pain they inflict on poor Bok-Nam was frustratingly over the top and cruel beyond belief. And the more the clock ticked forward.

Excerpt from Arrow in the Head located HERE

A woman who has been subjected to years of violence finally turns the tables on her tormenters in this metaphoric drama... from South Korea. After unwittingly witnessing a violent crime, Hae-won (Ji Sung-won) begins to emotionally unravel, so she takes a break from her job at a bank in Seoul and travels to the island village where she grew up. But Hae-won discovers fate has not been kind to her best friend Bok-nam (Seo Young-hee); she trapped in an abusive marriage, bullied by her neighbors, and forced to perform manual labor for a handful of elderly women. Hae-won tries to help Bok-nam, but there's only so much she can do, and when life throws a final grim indignity at Bok-nam, she explodes. The abused woman explodes into a violent fury, grabbing a sickle and taking bloody revenge against everyone who treated her badly. Kim-bok-nam Sal-in-sa-eui Jeon-mal (aka Bedevilled) was the first feature film from director Jang Cheol-soo.

Excerpt from MRQE located HERE

Image :    NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

Bedevilled comes to region 'A' Blu-ray from Well Go USA in a decent single-layered 1080P transfer.  The image quality has no flaws - contrast and colors look excellent. There is a hint of some noise in one or two scenes but the presentation is a positive one.  Outdoor scenery of the island is very impressive. This hold the HD mantle well enough to enjoy and be pleased by the video. This Blu-ray probably looks like the film Bedevilled did theatrically. I can't see anyone making issue with the appearance and most will appreciate the tight visuals.

 

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audio :

Audio comes in the form of a very healthy DTS-HD Master 5.1 track at 4006 kbps in the original Korean. There is also a stereo option. There is impressive range and some meaningful depth exported. Certain scenes impressively engage your Home Theater space. The surround can really support the film's surprise intensities. There are optional English subtitles and my Momitsu has identified it as being a region 'A'-locked.

 

Extras :

The only supplements are an ad-hoc 12-minute Behind the Scenes video and a trailer. The film is quite impacting and has some interesting plot turns that, I think, are worthy of some form of discussion. Maybe not a commentary but something more relevant than some behind-the-senses camerawork.

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
Some Korean films are noted for their unflinching intensity - and Bedevilled shares this feature with some shocking scenes. Even dismissing that - this is an interesting story with curious characters. The isolation of the island setting always encourages reflection and analysis. The Blu-ray and film have enough worthy attributes to take the plunge and we can endorse a Home Theater viewing experience.  

Gary Tooze

October 3rd, 2012