THE RAINCOAT KILLER: Chasing a Predator in Korea on Netflix is a new docu-series about the first known serial killer in South Korea. With just three episodes, this is a quick binge-watch. Read our full The Raincoat Killer: Chasing a Predator in Korea review here!

THE RAINCOAT KILLER: Chasing a Predator in Korea is a new Netflix docu-series. We follow the intense investigation into catching what was one of the first known serial killers in South Korea. 

The entire docu series consists of just three 45-minute episodes. Basically, you can watch it in the same time as most South Korean movies. After all, those movies do tend to be over two hours long (and worth it).

If you’ve watched The Chaser from 2008 (which is on our list of recommended Korean movies here), this story might seem familiar. Probably because it was in fact inspired by this very case. A great movie I’d recommend watching after this documentary.

Continue reading our The Raincoat Killer: Chasing a Predator in Korea review below.

Serial Killer with no motive

In The Raincoat Killer: Chasing a Predator in Korea, several police detectives and forensic officers are interviewed about the case. They all talk about the strange sensation at the crime scene. Like evil still hung in the air somehow.

Watching them talk about this case, you can sense that they still remember that sensation clearly.

The concept of a “serial killer” was still relatively new, but after the first few cases, the police can’t help but acknowledge that the same perpetrator is behind these crimes. As the police from several different precincts in Seoul investigate, the killer keeps committing murders. Sometimes only days apart.

He, Yoo Young-chul, is a brutal killer using a blunt weapon and going after senior citizens at first. Later, he targets women (often sex workers) and he never seems to take anything. No money, jewelry, or anything else of value.

Well, except for human lives, obviously. Still, he claims that his “motive” was that he hated women and rich people. 

The Raincoat Killer: Chasing a Predator in Korea – Netflix Review

In the words of the killer

I am never a fan of having the killer be the narrator of his own story. However, we do hear a voice-over in The Raincoat Killer: Chasing a Predator in Korea in a way that makes sense. He shows his complete disregard for other human beings.

Also, it highlights his “motive” (if you can call it that) which is that he enjoys killing. Also, the power makes him feel like a God. So, in other words, the classic serial killer motive really!

You’ll also learn how he gets rid of the bodies. Obviously, this is an important part of the story, but it does also feel a bit like it’s there for shock value. And I can understand why since it is a brutal and disgusting method of both killing and getting rid of the bodies.

MORE ON CHASING A SERIAL KILLER

Check out our Netflix review of Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer here >

Let’s just say that it involves kimchi since he needs something to cover the smell of decaying human flesh. He goes from killing monthly to weekly as his need for “that feeling” escalates!

Watch The Raincoat Killer: Chasing a Predator in Korea on Netflix now!

While this story is no doubt very important due to both the number of victims (as many as 100) and the fact that this was the first known serial killer in South Korea. It could have been better in terms of documentary style. I am just not a fan of having extreme close-ups on the mouths or eyes of those being interviewed.

Nor do I need to see the person being interviewed from three different angles. For me, it takes away from the core subject which is a story. This is brutal enough and doesn’t need these distracting elements.

Also, I would very much prefer that we heard more about the victims instead. Even if the concept of this Netflix documentary series is about the struggle to catch him. I still would have liked a little more focus on the victims.

What I did really like was that episode 1 of The Raincoat Killer also focused a lot on what was happening in South Korea at the time. And also, what life had been like in the decades just before. It’s all part of explaining the circumstances of these murders. In episode 2, the focus is much more on the serial killer and the many murders!

The Raincoat Killer: Chasing a Predator in Korea is out on Netflix from October 22, 2021.

Details

Director & Director of Photography: John Choi
Showrunner: Rob Sixsmith
Episodes: 3

Plot

Serial killer Yoo Young-chul murdered at least 20 people from 2003 to 2004 across the capital of South Korea, specifically targetting female sex workers and wealthy elderly people. The detectives and the criminal profilers who worked on the case reveal how they investigated the killings and finally brought Yoo to justice.

I write reviews and recaps on Heaven of Horror. And yes, it does happen that I find myself screaming, when watching a good horror movie. I love psychological horror, survival horror and kick-ass women. Also, I have a huge soft spot for a good horror-comedy. Oh yeah, and I absolutely HATE when animals are harmed in movies, so I will immediately think less of any movie, where animals are harmed for entertainment (even if the animals are just really good actors). Fortunately, horror doesn't use this nearly as much as comedy. And people assume horror lovers are the messed up ones. Go figure!
Karina "ScreamQueen" Adelgaard
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