Memories of Murder

In the autumn of 1986, a grim discovery shakes the small town to its core: two women are found brutally murdered and ravaged in a rural ditch. For Detective Park Doo-man, this case represents a daunting challenge, as he confronts the limitations of his department's outdated forensic capabilities, dubious investigative techniques, and crippling lack of resources. The seasoned investigator claims to possess an uncanny ability to discern suspects through subtle eye contact cues, but his methods are soon put to the test when he learns about a mentally challenged individual with a distinctive scar, Baek Kwang-ho, who resides in the town. Park's instinctive hunch points to Baek as the prime suspect, leading him to subject the young man to an intense interrogation.

As tensions escalate, Seo Tae-yoon, a seasoned detective from Seoul, arrives on the scene and clashes with Park over their differing approaches. The two investigators engage in a heated argument at a local gathering, further straining their already fragile working relationship. However, Seo's keen eye for detail prompts him to re-examine Baek's physical attributes and conclude that his weak and scarred hands are incapable of committing such a complex crime, thus clearing the mentally handicapped individual's name.

The investigation stalls, with Park struggling to make progress in the face of mounting evidence. The killer's modus operandi becomes increasingly apparent: they only strike on rainy nights, targeting women who wear red clothing or accessories. A perceptive female officer, Kwon Kwi-ok, uncovers a crucial clue, linking the murders to a local radio station that consistently plays a specific song on the nights of the crimes.

Park's frustration reaches a boiling point as he continues his search for the culprit, but his efforts yield nothing substantial. The stakes are heightened when another gruesome crime is committed, prompting Park, Seo, and Cho to converge on the latest crime scene from different angles. Their investigation is suddenly interrupted by a bizarre spectacle: a local man emerges, brandishing undergarments and engaging in a disturbing display of self-gratification amidst the chaos.

As the man flees the scene, his frantic departure sparks a chaotic pursuit through the crowd. Seo valiantly attempts to corral the situation, but Park's sharp instincts prove decisive, as he identifies the suspect by recognizing the telltale flash of red lingerie peeking from beneath the man's pants. Despite having already apprehended the culprit, Park feigns surprise and pretends to rely on his vaunted eye contact method once more, allowing Cho to take him into custody.

As Park and Cho persist in their brutal interrogation tactics, they manage to extract little from the suspect. Meanwhile, Seo's keen instincts lead him to a survivor of the killer, who reveals that the murderer's hands were surprisingly soft. This crucial detail allows Seo to clear the current suspect, whose rough hands contradict the witness's account. The detectives' frustration boils over as Park and Cho engage in a heated argument, only to be interrupted by Kwon's timely alert: the same song played at each murder scene is now being broadcast on the radio.

As the rain pours down, they arrive too late to prevent another senseless killing. Forced to regroup, Park, Seo, and Cho put aside their differences to collaborate in the investigation. During the autopsy of the latest victim, a peculiar discovery is made: tiny fragments of peach are embedded in her body. This bizarre clue sends them on a new trail, which ultimately leads them to a factory worker named Park Hyeon-gyu, who has only recently moved to the area.

As they dig deeper, Seo's trusty documents from the radio station serve as their guide, leading them to Hyeon-gyu's doorstep. Initially, the detectives are unable to pin anything on him, but Seo's sharp eyes notice a telltale sign: his hands are surprisingly soft, mirroring the description provided by the earlier survivor. As they begin to question Hyeon-gyu further, Cho's emotions get the better of him, and he brutally beats their suspect, prompting their superior to ban him from any future interrogations.

The investigation takes a dramatic turn as Park and Seo listen in on Baek's chilling confession regarding an earlier murder. Seo's keen mind picks up on subtle cues, revealing that Baek is hiding something - he has witnessed the crime firsthand. The detectives track down Baek to his father's restaurant, only to find Cho already there, struggling with his own demons. As the situation spirals out of control, Baek arrives and joins the chaos, wielding a wooden board in a frenzy.

In a heart-stopping climax, Park and Seo give chase as Baek flees, ultimately leading him into the path of an oncoming train. The tragic event claims his life, leaving the detectives to ponder the dark secrets they have uncovered.

As the grim reality of Cho's fate sinks in, Park is consumed by a crushing sense of responsibility and regret for having inadvertently led his partner and best friend into a catastrophic situation. The rusty nail's deadly consequence - tetanus - means that Cho's leg will have to be amputated, leaving Park to grapple with the weight of his mistake.

Meanwhile, the investigation plods on, hampered by the lack of advanced forensic technology. A crucial clue emerges in the form of a semen sample, but it must be sent to the United States for DNA analysis, adding an agonizing layer of uncertainty to their search for Hyeon-gyu, the prime suspect.

Seo's frustration is palpable as he tries to track down Hyeon-gyu, only to miss his chance when fatigue gets the better of him. That night, Park's girlfriend takes a solitary walk through the forest, unaware that she is being watched by an unseen figure lurking in the shadows. But fate intervenes, and a younger girl appears, her innocence brutally extinguished as she falls victim to the killer's wrath.

The next morning brings a devastating discovery - Seo's schoolgirl friend, whose band-aid-adorned waist serves as a haunting reminder of their shared investigation. Enraged by this latest atrocity, Seo's pent-up emotions boil over, and he unleashes his fury on Hyeon-gyu in a violent outburst that is only halted by Park's timely intervention.

However, the documents from America bring a stunning revelation - the semen sample does not match Hyeon-gyu's DNA. Seo refuses to accept this new information, convinced that he knows the truth about Hyeon-gyu's guilt. Park attempts to use his trusty eye-contact method on the suspect, but finds himself unable to read anything conclusive from Hyeon-gyu's reactions. In a tense standoff, Seo reaches for his gun, only to be stopped by Park, who decides to release Hyeon-gyu back into the community.

Years later, in 2003, a chance visit to the crime scene serves as a poignant reminder of the case's enduring unsolved nature. As Park Doo-man, now a successful businessman, surveys the area, he is approached by a curious little girl who shares a chilling encounter with an unknown man - his "normal" face a mask for something far more sinister. The film concludes with Park locking eyes directly with the camera, as if attempting to use his eye-contact method one last time, searching for the killer among the audience.