MURDER REPORT is a Korean psychological thriller now streaming on Netflix, proving that suspense can exist without explosions, chase scenes, or graphic violence.
Set almost entirely within a single interview space, the film builds tension through dialogue, moral pressure, and carefully controlled performances. Although it underperformed during its theatrical run, its OTT release has sparked renewed attention, with many viewers calling it “quiet, disturbing, and impossible to forget.”
This review explores MURDER REPORT’s story, ending, central twist, thematic questions, and sequel potential.
Basic Information
- Release Date: September 5, 2025
- Director: Cho Young-jun
- Genre: Drama, Thriller
- Rating: Restricted (Adults Only)
- Runtime: 107 minutes
- Cast: Jo Yeo-jeong, Jung Sung-il, Kim Tae-han
- Total Admissions: Approx. 360,000
- Streaming Platforms: Netflix, Apple TV, Wavve, Watcha, Coupang Play, U+ Mobile TV
MURDER REPORT Plot Summary — Stop the Interview, and Someone Dies
Investigative journalist Baek Seon-ju (Jo Yeo-jeong) receives a phone call that promises the story of a lifetime.
The caller is Lee Young-hoon (Jung Sung-il), a psychiatrist who calmly claims responsibility for eleven murders. He announces another killing is imminent—and proposes an interview.
“If you accept the interview,
the next victim may survive.”
Against her better judgment, Seon-ju agrees. With help from her partner, homicide detective Han Sang-woo (Kim Tae-han), she arranges a secretly recorded interview in a hotel suite.
Young-hoon is disturbingly cooperative. He speaks with clarity, logic, and emotional restraint. He even provides video proof of his crimes.
At this point, MURDER REPORT shifts its focus.
The mystery is no longer whether he is a killer—
but why this interview had to be with Seon-ju.
MURDER REPORT Explained — Murder as ‘Treatment’
Young-hoon explains that his killings are not driven by anger or pleasure.
Years earlier, his wife survived a sexual assault. The perpetrator escaped meaningful punishment. Unable to recover from her trauma, she ultimately ended her life along with their child.
Disillusioned with the legal system, Young-hoon began listening to stories of other victims failed by justice. In his mind, murder became a way to end suffering—a final, irreversible form of treatment.
As the interview progresses, it becomes clear that Seon-ju herself is not just an observer.
The final target is someone inside her life.
MURDER REPORT Ending & Twist — Evil Was Never a Stranger
The film’s most devastating twist reveals the truth about Han Sang-woo, Seon-ju’s lover and a trusted police officer.
Sang-woo had stolen corporate ledgers to conceal corruption. When Seon-ju’s daughter Yerin discovered the truth, he committed a crime that permanently shattered her life.
The person who uncovered this was Yerin’s psychiatrist—Lee Young-hoon.
Young-hoon does not carry out direct revenge. Instead, he exposes the truth, sets moral conditions, and waits for the inevitable outcome.
Sang-woo ultimately disappears, erased through psychological consequence rather than public punishment. The case is officially closed as a disappearance.
Seon-ju, knowing everything, chooses not to report Young-hoon.
Her decision is rooted in guilt, survival, and the fragile recovery of her child.
Justice is not served—
only endured.
MURDER REPORT Ending Analysis — An Open Moral Question
MURDER REPORT avoids clear moral judgment.
Instead, it leaves viewers with unresolved questions:
- When the law fails, does personal revenge become inevitable?
- Can saving one life justify destroying another?
- At what point do we begin siding with someone we know is a killer?
In the final scene, Young-hoon mentions an upcoming “next session.”
The implication is chilling: his work is ongoing.
The story may be unfinished.
Performances — A Two-Hander Psychological Duel
Jo Yeo-jeong as Baek Seon-ju
Jo delivers a restrained, emotionally precise performance. Her character’s collapse happens quietly—through hesitation, silence, and restrained expressions. She anchors the film’s moral weight.
Jung Sung-il as Lee Young-hoon
Jung’s performance is unsettling in its calmness. His measured tone and rational arguments create a sense of dread more powerful than overt violence. Every line feels calculated.
Limitations and Sequel Potential
The film’s weakest point lies in Sang-woo’s characterization. Given the magnitude of his crimes, his psychological buildup feels underdeveloped, slightly reducing the emotional impact of the final act.
Still, the film’s structure and open ending strongly support sequel potential—particularly if future stories expand on the evolving dynamic between Seon-ju and Young-hoon.
Final Verdict
MURDER REPORT is a quiet yet ruthless psychological thriller—
a film that doesn’t shock loudly, but wounds deeply.
For viewers seeking a Korean Netflix thriller driven by ethics, dialogue, and lingering discomfort rather than spectacle, this is a compelling choice.
OFFICIAL STREAMING & VERIFIED RESOURCES
Netflix — Murder Report Official Page
https://www.netflix.com/
Jo Yeo-jeong
https://www.instagram.com/lightyears81/
Jung Sung-il
https://www.instagram.com/ygmicael
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