Ray (Deliver us from Evil)

Ray is the main antagonist of the film Deliver Us from Evil (2020). He is a Korean-Japanese hitman working for the yakuza. In terms of character types, he is a cold-blooded, ruthless, and charismatic psychopath for whom killing is not just a job, but a natural habitat. His incredible cruelty earned him the nickname "Ray the Butcher."

Character History and Lore

· Origin: Ray is ethnically Korean, but grew up and became an assassin in Japan, integrating into the yakuza underworld. This makes him an "outsider" and adds complexity to the character. · Family: He had an older brother named Koreda, who was also an influential figure in the yakuza. It was this brother who was apparently Ray's only significant connection to the human world. Trigger Event: Ray's entire plot unfolds when the main character, hitman In-nam (Hwang Jung-min), carries out his "final mission" in Japan and kills his brother, Koreda. Upon learning of this, Ray takes off and begins pursuing In-nam for revenge.

Character and Personality

Despite the lack of information about his past, Ray's character is vividly revealed in the film—through his actions, mannerisms, and dialogue.

Chaotic Evil: Unlike In-nam, who is trying to escape the criminal underworld and suffers from pangs of conscience, Ray doesn't just embrace violence—he enjoys it. One reviewer on Letterboxd aptly describes him as "chaotic evil." In one scene, when asked why it's so important for him to kill In-nam, Ray replies, "The reason isn't important." Revenge is merely an excuse for him; his true pleasure lies in the process of hunting and killing. · Emotionless Cruelty: Ray shows no empathy whatsoever. He kills coldly, calculatingly, and with extreme cruelty. Sites like TV Tropes describe him with a single word: "AxCrazy." He can easily kill an entire police squad or a gang of organ traffickers simply because they stand in his way. · Contrast and Aesthetics: What makes him particularly creepy is his polished appearance. Ray is always dressed in immaculate light-colored suits, often white. This visual device works as a contrast: the white color reflects light and makes the blood of his victims even more visible. He is like a "fashionable executioner" who meticulously lays out a plastic sheet before killing to avoid splashing his clothes and carefully washes his weapon afterward. · Intelligence and Pragmatism: Ray is more than just a mindless killing machine. He is cunning and understands the workings of the criminal underworld perfectly. When a situation spirals out of control, he unhesitatingly enters into a temporary alliance with the head of an organ trafficking ring, using his people and resources to achieve his goal. He also shows no remorse, breaking any agreements when they are no longer necessary.

Relationships with other characters

· In-Nam (protagonist): Ray is a dark mirror of the protagonist. One reviewer from HanCinema aptly notes: "In-Nam isn't afraid to become Ray because he already is Ray." The only thing that separates them is In-Nam's capacity for remorse and human emotion, which Ray completely lacks. For Ray, In-Nam is not a person, but a target, a toy to play with. · Brother (Koreda): The only person Ray may have felt any affection for. His death unleashed Ray's madness, giving him what he considered a "legal" excuse for a bloodbath.

In short: Ray is not just a hired killer, but a true demon incarnate.

His mother ran away, and his father worked as a butcher at the local market and beat his children.

1. Ruthless—the foundation of his character, he shows no mercy to his victims.
2. Cold-blooded—never raises his voice and doesn't panic during a massacre.
3. Meticulous—his famous cleanliness (oilcloth, washing his blade) is elevated to the absolute.
4. Charismatic—it's impossible to take your eyes off him, even when he's doing terrible things.
5. Insane—behind his veneer lies a clinical obsession with murder.
6. Unstoppable—he can't be stopped or frightened; he goes straight ahead.
7. Calculating—even in anger, he plans his actions several moves ahead.
8. Fatal—death itself in human form; an encounter with him promises nothing but death.
9. Mirror—a dark reflection of the protagonist, revealing what In Nam could have become. 10. Inevitable - like a tsunami or lightning, it just happens without asking permission.

A Korean man. Tall, slender, often dresses flashily, perhaps in designer clothes. He has a neat hairstyle, often branded sunglasses, and expensive shoes. He appears more of a dandy and fashionista. His clothes are not classically fashionable.