Return opens up with the bone chilling tale of a screaming boy who, despite having been put under general anesthesia, stays fully conscious during his operation. Unable to communicate to the doctors as he is paralyzed from the muscle relaxant, the boy experiences unimaginable pain and explicit recollection of surgical details that subsequently lead to post-traumatic nightmares and killings. This frightening paranormal condition known as anesthesia awareness remains a medical enigma to date. Tackling the fear of the unknown and our grim fascination with psychopathic killers, Return demonstrates precisely why this sort of creepy crime thriller appeals to so many.

Twenty-five years have gone by and nobody knows of the boy's whereabouts. Then, with the onset of another murder, the quest to solve the killer's machinations begins. As the film rolls out its deftly framed plot jam-packed with vital leads and clues, the audience soon find themselves swooning over the speedy progression of events and captivated by the intellectual stimulation of reeling in the mystery first-hand. The suspects basically boil down to four people - all of whom roam closely around the marked victim. With so many twists and turns, one is never quite sure where it's going to wind up.

Personally, I have not seen any of Kim Myung Min's previous pictures, and that includes his highly acclaimed medical drama The Great White Tower, but that is about to change now. Kim is a craftsman at bringing a sense of vulnerability and authenticity to the screen with palatable finesse. The dynamics of his performance, especially in scenes where he lashes out in agony and pain, offers evidence of his commanding screen presence and proof enough for me to explore his earlier works. But in fact, Kim only makes up for a portion of the film's credit as some of the best talents in the business, including Kim Tae Woo, Yoo Joon Sang, and Jung Yoo Suk, bring the film's overall appeals to completion.

Return is not just another crime thriller; it somehow manifests itself into a tragic drama, thanks largely to its touching and emotional portrayal of the killer's psychology through childhood flashbacks. I was deeply engrossed in the little boy's heart-wrenching and dire circumstances - another surprise element that increases the film's appeal.

Although with multiple viewing, I'm sure I will find a few holes here and there, for now, the film stands tall in its methodically constructed script. With its mind-boggling paranormal bent and non-stop twisters, Return does what films of these genres should do: thrill us. Now, if only somebody would make a movie about killers suffering from spontaneous human combustion or phantom limb pain.