Memoir of a Murderer

Memoir of a Murderer

Year: 2017

Runtime: 118 min

Language: Korean

Director: Shin-yeon Won

Echo Score: 87

Budget: $125K

ActionDramaThriller

A retired assassin struggling with Alzheimer's is forced to confront his dark past when his daughter becomes the target of a dangerous stalker. As his memories deteriorate, he must fight to protect her, battling both the stalker and the fading grip on his own sanity. Loyalty and love are tested in a suspenseful fight for survival and a chance at redemption.

Memoir of a Murderer (2017) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Memoir of a Murderer (2017) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a quiet town where the ordinary rhythm of daily life masks hidden currents of violence, a former killer has slipped into the role of a modest veterinarian. Byeong‑soo lives among the gentle hum of animal clinics, yet his past as an assassin lingers like a shadow that refuses to dissolve. The routine of caring for stray cats and wounded birds provides a fragile sanctuary, but an insidious disease steals the edges of his recollection, turning even the most familiar streets into a maze of uncertainty. To anchor himself, he begins recording his thoughts each day, a habit that becomes both a lifeline and a reminder of the world he can no longer fully trust.

His daughter, a source of warmth and purpose, stands at the center of his fragile world. Eun‑hee balances compassion with a quiet determination to protect her father’s sanity, encouraging his habit of note‑taking and sharing moments of tenderness that illuminate the fading corners of his mind. Their bond is a delicate thread stretched between love and the looming threat that someone is watching, intent on pulling them apart. The looming danger is hinted at only by the uneasy feeling that a stalker is closing in, a presence that turns ordinary encounters into potential peril.

Enter a compassionate police officer who becomes an unlikely ally, offering patience and a steadying hand to a man whose reality flickers like a dying lantern. Byeong‑man brings a touch of humanity to the investigation, his warm demeanor contrasting sharply with the cold calculations of Byeong‑soo’s former life. Their growing friendship adds a layer of quiet hope amid the looming dread, suggesting that loyalty can survive even the most fractured of minds.

The film sways between tense, atmospheric suspense and moments of fragile beauty, painting a portrait of a man fighting both the erosion of his memories and the encroaching darkness of a hidden threat. The tone is hushed yet unsettling, inviting viewers to feel the claustrophobic pressure of a mind in decay while the world around them hints at unseen dangers, leaving the audience perched on the edge of anticipation.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 03:06

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Thrillers with unreliable narrators like Memoir of a Murderer

Stories where the protagonist's fractured perception blurs the line between truth and paranoia.If you were captivated by the fractured perspective in Memoir of a Murderer, explore more movies like it. This list features psychological thrillers and dramas where the protagonist's unreliable memory, mental state, or perceptions create a suspenseful and disorienting experience, making you an active participant in deciphering the truth.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern revolves around a central character whose grasp on reality is compromised, often by a condition like amnesia, dementia, or psychological trauma. The plot unfolds through their distorted viewpoint, creating suspense as the audience pieces together clues to separate fact from delusion, leading to a climactic revelation that recontextualizes everything.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped together because they share a core mechanic of psychological suspense built on an unreliable perspective. They create a specific, unsettling viewer experience where empathy for the protagonist is mixed with doubt, resulting in a tense and intellectually engaging journey.

Dark redemption thrillers like Memoir of a Murderer

A morally grey protagonist fights for a loved one's safety as a final chance at salvation.For viewers who enjoyed the theme of a troubled past colliding with a desperate present in Memoir of a Murderer. Discover similar movies about morally complex anti-heroes seeking redemption by protecting someone they love. These stories blend heavy emotional weight with intense action and often end on a bittersweet note.

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Narrative Summary

The journey follows a flawed character with a dark history—often an ex-assassin, criminal, or vigilante—whose secluded life is shattered when a new threat emerges. Their path to redemption is intrinsically tied to protecting a vulnerable person, forcing them to use the very skills they hoped to leave behind, ultimately sacrificing their peace for a greater good.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a powerful emotional core: the convergence of a protective instinct with a quest for personal salvation. They balance high-intensity action with heavy themes of guilt, sacrifice, and love, resulting in a gripping and emotionally resonant experience that typically concludes with a bittersweet resolution.

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Memoir of a Murderer Summary

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Memoir of a Murderer Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Memoir of a Murderer

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