Villain

2010

2h 19m

Drama

List

57%

Tomatometer

14 Reviews

73%

Audience Score

250+ Ratings

A woman's murder provokes reflection on the ugliness of modern society.

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Anthony Quinn

Independent (UK)

Rated: 3/5

Aug 25, 2011

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Derek Malcolm

London Evening Standard

Villain is too long, with a propensity for clich at vital moments, but its best parts are very good and Lee's direction makes the most of them.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 19, 2011

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Cath Clarke

Guardian

While being classily acted and handsomely shot, something appears to have been lost in translation from page to screen.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 18, 2011

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Michael Leader

Den of Geek

They are intriguing themes, nonetheless, it is just unfortunate that the audience is kept at a distance throughout. It’s doubly unfortunate, because not only does Villain have a lot going for it, it has a lot riding on it, as well.

Rated: 3/5

May 7, 2024

Full Review

Graham Young

Birmingham Mail

Having stayed in Japan, I really enjoyed how the location shots capture the country and its people.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 23, 2011

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Matthew Turner

ViewLondon

Rated: 3/5

Aug 25, 2011

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Audience Member

Good movie. Very long, but doesn't drag. As another reviewer commented, the title really does make you think by the end who the villain actually is. For me, the young girl at the beginning and her fickle boyfriend are way worse characters! Yuichi is flawed and he does some awful things, but there is growth from him by the end. (Which also initially confused me until I realised what his motivation was). Basically it's a doomed romance between him and a quiet girl who works in a menswear store.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A meeting through a dating site between a young man and a woman ends in tragedy, and this film examines the dramatic repercussions on the lives of the people surrounding the meeting. It's too long and leans towards cliché all too often, but Lee's direction makes the film look good

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is a movie that grows on you. It starts okay but just gets better and better. The characters are just so well developed. Wonderful ensemble film well, don't let the length bother you: it's worth it's time. The title Villain is very well chosen since at the end you will wonder who the real villain really is.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

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Audience Member

Dont understand why this movie could win so many awards.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

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Audience Member

I felt like there are sequences that is not necessary for the film, 2 hours of running away from the authorities can make an audience bored to death, on top of that the music they used on certain scenes are not as compelling as it should have. The story is good, it's not just a love story, it's more than that. The movie isn't perfect but the portrayal of Eri Fukatsu and Satoshi Tsumabuki is.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Yoshino had it coming, really.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

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Sang-il Lee

Director

Satoshi Tsumabuki

Shimizu

Eri Fukatsu

Mitsuyo

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81%

88%

Confessions

7%

38%

Caught in the Web

24%

40%

Make It Happen

71%

75%

Disconnect

63%

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Synopsis

A woman's murder provokes reflection on the ugliness of modern society.

Director: Sang-il Lee
Production Co: Toho Company Ltd.
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Japanese
Runtime: 2h 19m