The Film (3.5/5)

After working for the same company for 8 years, Min-soo (Beom-Jun Kim) finds himself without a job. Fearing what his financially obsessed girlfriend Soo-Jin (Jung-hwa Bae), will think, he tries to find a new job as soon as possible. Soo-jin finally gets a chance to buy a coffee shop of her own, but drama begins when Min-soo mentions his money problems.

Soo-jin's Brother (Jeon Beom-soo) is a pickpocket and petty thief who tries his hand at stealing cars. Min-soo is sucked into this and starts to use his skills as an ex insurance man and a current driver to his advance. One night he happens to run into a former co-worker and must give him a lift home. While driving Min-soo finally snaps and murders the guy. But instead of panicking, he realizes that he has a secret desire and gift for murder.

GIFTED (2014) comes to us from Director Juhn Jai-hong, who also made a mini-splash with 2008's BEAUTIFUL. I haven't seen that earlier picture, but I can tell from GIFTED that there is deep social parody going on. GIFTED is similar in tone to AMERICAN PSYCHO and offers a cruel idea of how one can become rich from murder/ crime. Everyone in the movie seems to be fixed on money, and the means to get it.

I'm sure some of this comes from the economy pressures of South Korea, but a lot of its twisted imagery could be a generational one. Coming from a westerner eye, I can't comment on how intense the job market is in Korea, but it's an anxiety that can be felt through every frame.

Being a movie about murder, it's surprisingly not too gratuitous with its death scenes. Most being completely bloodless. There only real thing that is daring is an opening shot with Min-soo masturbating in a pile of money. A mission statement opening shot. There is some empathy with the killer, But Director Jai-hong, makes the set of characters blunt and emotionally shallow to follow their greed.

That said, GIFTED is a well-crafted movie with plenty of building tension and some genuine scares. Both Kim Boem-Jun and Bae Jung-Hwa give layered performances. Even if there are too many shots of the couple posing cute for a selfie or a quick bite.

Audio/Video (4.5/5)

88 Films gives the movie two crystal clear audio tracks and a stunning video transfer. First up is the Korean 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio surround mix. The sound was bold, and the music score is mesmerizing. The level of detail in the sound design is second to none. There is no pops or hiss. The second track is the Korean 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo mix. It's overall a little softer in tone and not as sharp. English subtitles are included.

The 1080p HD picture is fantastic. The muted colors are clear and don't feel murky. There is no digital noise or motion blur. The transfer also uses its warm oranges well with some well-defined black levels.

Extras (1/5)

Extras are limited to a trailer and alternate poster/cover artwork.

Overall (3.5/5)

GIFTED is a little rough around the edges. At once a chilling character study of murderer and a capitalist nightmare. Sadly, too many of the supporting characters are just as nasty as the lead. For fans of Korean cinema, 88 Films releases this title with a wonderful transfer. Recommended.