Evil Hunters. Review on Through The Darkness

I have completed watching the 2022 South Korean Web Series Through The Darkness Season 1 which is based on the 2018 non-fiction book by the same title co-written by Korea's first criminal profiler Kwon II-yong and journalist turned author Ko Na-mu. The book highlights Kwon's field experiences.

Many draw parallel between Through The Darkness and 2017 American Psychological Crime Thriller Mindhunter which is again based on the 1995 true-crime book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit by retired FBI Special Agent, John E Douglas and author, Mark Olshaker.

However, both the thrillers are said to be dealing with different subjects though in the former there is reference to the book Mindhunter which inspires and influences the protagonists in their work.

Inspired by criminal profiling adopted in America, Head of the Forensics Department, Captain Kook Young Soo(Jin Sun-Kyu) sets up the Behavioural Analyst Team(BAT) within the Korean Police Force against all odds and oppositions. Captain Kook is already a legend in Forensics. Yet, he has to convince hard the concerned in the right places(who are also his contemporaries and friends) for BAT.

It is the first wing of its kind to sketch the psychological profile of hard-core criminals based on in-depth study of their behavioural patterns in order to assist the investigation of serious and violent crimes. He handpicks his team mates - Inspector Song Ha-Young(Kim Nam-Gil) and Statistical Analyst, Jung Woo-Joo(Ryeo-Un). Jung Woo-Joo is a newbie whereas Song Ha-Young is an enigma and infamous for betraying his superiors. Inspite of being sincere, dedicated, enviably focused in his work he is considered unreliable because he does not hesitate to point out to his superior if action taken by him is not in line with the code of police conduct. He exudes quiet strength, restraint and determination. Remarkably composed he conveys his view point without mincing words or fear of jeopardising his prospects. The betrayer he is made out to be is actually his core ethics which does not allow him to be a sycophant or show any ungainly loyalty to his immediate reporting officer.

It is also the time when South Korea is rocked by series of serial killings. Public is insecure and scared. The serial killers are too smart to get caught. Unfortunately, the Special Investigation Teams of the Korean Police Force are not suitably equipped or experienced to track down these psychopaths. Captain Kook staunchly believes that profiling the psychology of the criminals by analysing their behaviour and modus operandi(the way they commit crimes) will go a long way in facilitating the detectives to catch these killers with knowledge and insight.

But Kook's strong conviction is challenged as the investigators deride the concept of criminal profiling and the crime reporters ridicule the Police Force for giving BAT access to not only examine the crime scenes and collect evidences but also to interview the already convicted prisoners to understand the triggers behind their heinous crimes.

Despite the lack of appreciation of their hard work, Captain Kook and Inspector Song are unstoppable in delivering the goods. They draw out Profile Reports of one thousand convicts based on one-o-one interviews. These profilings help them analyze the psychological patterns of ongoing killings and finally extract confessions from the deranged criminals once they are arrested. The huge database on criminal profiles, thus created and maintained by BAT, is aimed to serve as established referrals and according to Captain Kook also pave the path to minimising, if not eradicating criminal activities from society, in future. Once the psychology of the criminals is grasped, the social maladies catalysing criminal activities can be reformed leading to a better, crime free society.

At first BAT is grudgingly given a year's time to prove its worth. Subsequently, with Captain Kook's painstaking, persevearant proddings, approval is accorded for extension of tenure at regular intervals. The Team works day and night from a store room in the basement without Air Conditioning in blazing summers, Heating System in freezing winters, water coolers, coffee vending machines and other such amenities considered prerequisites to good and healthy working.

The detectives treat BAT as unnecessary intrusion messing up their line of investigation, stealing credit of catching the outlaws due to them and undermining the labour of the frontliners who are putting their life in danger to perform their duty. They simply do not understand BAT's methods and pass derisive remarks when they present their cases. Nonetheless, BAT strives on motivated to combat evil in society even if it takes a hard toll on their personal relationships and mental well being.

Slowly, very slowly, the detectives realize how much Inspector Song and Captain Kook are enduring in terms of mental pressure and personal deprivation in order to constantly and consistently provide positive and meaningful assistance in not only resolving complex criminal cases but also in evaluating the role of society in berthing perverted minds and neglecting the grieving families of the victims who are left to cope with their unjustified and irreparable losses in silence without any empathetic support. Slowly bias, non-cooperation and prejudice give way to mutual camaraderie, trust and respect.

Through The Darkness can be a grueling watch yet it is edge of the seat. The interviews with the criminals take a toll on the strongest of minds, especially, those wherein Inspector Song and Captain Kook have to partake food with the interviewees to make them feel comfortable and let them speak freely. Then there are other scheming ones who negotiate with Kook and Song for certain considerations in exchange of information. Tougher are the interrogations wherein the pscyhopaths either glorify their crimes or eagerly explain in detail how amusing and relaxing it is to kill. It is really unbelievable to what extent the killers will go to perfect the art of kill. One of them gets his entire body x-rayed to identify the most easily breakable points in human anatomy while there is another who keeps meticulous notes on all his successful preying attempts. The common denominator amongst them being the fetish for health and hygiene because longer they live larger number they can kill, thereby, becoming the numero uno serial killer in the history of mankind.

This nail biting journey of a pioneering team would have devolved into a docu series had it not been for Kim Nam-Gil's superb performance as Inspector Song. He is extremely introvert, shy, soft hearted and sensitive to other's feelings and pains. Outwardly, he is a man of reticence, grit and steel. This duality is his strength as well as a curse. How he portrays this paradox within himself is something to watch and wonder on! Am sure you will fall in love with him as I have.

Captain Kook as a team leader is emphatically every employee's dream boss. He is the cutter who knows his gems well. He identifies with ease who will best suit his team. Song is one whom he recognizes as tailormade for the job. He has observed him at work and keeps telling him to join him till he relents. He is encouraging and appreciative of good work, self motivated and motivates team members, is fatherly to his subordinates and even enjoys "happy hours" with them. He tells Song to maintain work-life balance, gives his mother emotional support in time of crisis and feels responsible and guilty when Inspector Song has to pay a heavy price on account of his exacting job as criminal profiler.

While the series pivots around BAT and its gradual evolution to being an indispensable and expanded arm of Korean Police Force, Through The Darkness also chronicles how the Special Crime Unit within gears up to handle unforeseeable crimes by constantly critiquing its own performance and concluding how best it can avoid delay in bringing the culprits to book. This evaluatory exercise takes place not in any soundproof conference hall of some plush five star Hotel but on the very seat where the detectives are working on day to day basis in the presence of their superiors who sit with them and coax a brainstorming session on their performance, thereby, making self-appraisal a part of their function and not outside it. There is much to learn for all law-enforcing agencies here if they care!

It is also a personal saga of two team, rather soulmates, conjoined by a single umbilical cord - their passion for systematic and scientific investigative procedures in resolving nay eliminating the motives spurring crimes in society. How working in unison they grow together to the extent that when one withdraws the other is hard put not to crumble down. It is also how they come back together stronger, closer and need be said happier.

Before signing off I will recommend this masterpiece for all those who fancy police procedurals and are diehard fans of crime thrillers with a caveat that if you find it too nerve racking take breaks in between. That is how I watched it through. But do pull on till the end as there is much to absorb from this inspiring tale of two police personnel, their unflinching belief in scientific investigation and dauntless endeavour to bust the myth of infallibility of crime. As Song says time and again, "There is nothing called a perfect crime. It does not exist."

I say amen to that .