South Korea cinema is back with a new action-packed triumph, deliciously raw and heavy in meaning. Not that it’s necessary to introduce him, but the filmmaking master Park Chan-wook has already given cinema iconic films that inspired many future directors. The best example of many being his 2003 thriller Oldboy, in which the plot twist made many jaws drop and, more recently, The Handmaiden in 2016 whose plot should be recognised as a wonder of the world. He chose 2025 for the release of his latest brilliant dark comedy, which delivers a story with a tragically true message.
Yoo Man-su has it all in his luxurious house with his wife, his two kids and dogs, all thanks to his high-ranking job in a paper company. But, you saw it coming, an American takeover makes him and thousands jobless. Understanding that he must end this situation to keep food on the table , after months of battling with his fear of failure, he finally finds a perfect job for him - but he’s not the only one determined to win it, so he understands what he will have to do to "eliminate" his opponents.
...striking the perfect balance between tragedy and comedy...
If you have already seen his movies, you will not be disappointed by the direction. As always Park Chan-wook knows how to mix drama to any kind of environment, striking the perfect balance between tragedy and comedy, with sometimes a tiny little bit of sensuality like only he knows. He chose the perfect actor to symbolise this misfortune of life. Lee Byung-Hun, whose face you already seen in Squid Game, (or, if you’re a true cinephile, whose voice you've heard in KPop Demon Hunters) gives without a doubt his best film performance. He knows how to create fear, attract sympathy, and express sadness in the face of the cruelty of the world which pushes him to do what he must do.
Regarding the scenario, Park Chan Wook understands the formula to get the viewer engaged till the end and of course structure everything to punctuate the heartbeats of the spectators as he wishes. He especially cooked for the final scene of the movie, which hits even harder than the rest of the film. All its meaning is expressed there, and the movie comes closer to our reality which guarantees you will be glued to your seat long after the end of the film to philosophise about the true meaning of what you just watched.
Coming at a perfect time, Park Chan-wook is one of these filmmakers that will never lose his own style, and he will always have its place in the highest peaks of cinema. His new success is a film that should not be forgotten for the next few years, especially when job hunting will become as tight as in the movie. Because we might all spend an eternity looking for the best solution, until we have No Other Choice.