I will give it a rating of 7.5/10.
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PROS
- The casting is superb! Lee Jung-Jae is a genuinely terrifying villain and portrays the character perfectly
- Even though the movie has slow pacing in the first half, it delivers loads of atmosphere and audio/visual story telling
- Some of the score sounds more fitting to a horror movie, but it works so well in creating an unsettling tone
- The action scenes are expertly choreographed and are overflowing with realistic-looking violence and seat-gripping excitement
- Somehow there are even some beautiful moments that are touching and give a necessary balance to the rest of the film's overall "heaviness"
CONS
- There is an indirect story telling method that provides depth to the protagonist and it is easy to miss details
- The main character is not properly introduced for awhile, which was a bit unusual
- Some of the environments look very mid 00s with its oversaturated yellow tint aesthetics
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I can't think of a better movie to showcase the amazing talents of Hwang Jung-Min and Lee Jung-Jae. If you're familiar with Korean films (or have seen Squid Game), you'll definitely recognize these icons.
This is a heavy watch with a lot of violence, so beware if you're sensitive to those things. Other than that, it is pretty easy to recommend. This film has a similar feel to another great crime action/thriller called Night in Paradise; however, this one is less of a downer.
I can actually see myself wanting to re-watch this in the future.
8/10
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Great action and acting
This movie has some heartbreaking and jaw dropping aspects to it, but was interesting to watch - riveting, actually. I did turn off the TV and tried to sleep about half-way through as it was way past my bedtime, but couldn't do it. I just had to turn it back on and find out how it ended. Woke up today still thinking about different aspects, especially the brilliant acting and action and the disturbing plotline. I hope there is a special place in hell for those who sell children (or anyone else) for organ harvesting.Was this review helpful to you?
Watch this if you Like Chase!
The Story was kind of basic. But the action was good. This is the type of movie where you don't need to constantly glare at the screen; you just have to pay attention, and you can watch it while having your meal. I think they should've cast young actors for the lead roles of Hwang and Lee. But both of them are the key to attracting audiences, so I cannot blame them. The ending was good, and I felt satisfied by all means. Watch this if you like "No Country for Old Men," but the Korean version was shot in Thailand.Was this review helpful to you?
Loved the cinematography
It had been a while since I’d seen Hwang Jung-min in a lead action role, so watching Deliver Us From Evil felt like reconnecting with an old favourite, and he did not disappoint.The Plot**
The story follows Kim In Nam, a professional hitman who has spent years eliminating targets for an organisation but now works on his own. As one last job before he disappears for good, he is given an assignment in Japan involving the yakuza boss. Nam plans to retire quietly in Panama. But just as he thinks he’s finally stepping away from bloodshed, his past comes chasing him back. He learns that he has a daughter from a former girlfriend, a child he never knew existed, and now she has been kidnapped in Thailand.As In Nam races to save his daughter, he is hunted by the ruthless half-brother of the yakuza boss he killed for revenge.
The story is intense and tightly paced. There’s no unnecessary dragging. It moves with purpose. The cinematography shift between Korea and Thailand was one of my favourite aspects. When the film moves to Thailand, the colour palette transforms to intense yellows, humid streets, and neon-lit chaos. It gave me strong late 90s / early 2000s action-thriller vibes. That gritty, sweaty, street-level energy that feels raw and dangerous.
The action sequences were genuinely impressive. Not just generic fight scenes but a combination of: brutal hand-to-hand combat, high-speed chases, gunfights and knife combat.
Hwang Jung-min plays In Nam with a quiet exhaustion. He’s not flashy. He’s not overly emotional. But you can see the weight of his life in his eyes. This isn’t a man looking for redemption; it’s a man trying to do one right thing before disappearing,and then there’s the antagonist, played by Lee Jung-jae, he was terrifying. Unhinged. Stylish. Violent. Cold and he enjoyed the hunt.
The side character Yui, a transgender Korean woman trying to earn money for surgery, added unexpected emotional depth. The actor played her with such charm tough on the outside, but clearly soft-hearted underneath. She brought moments of humour and warmth into an otherwise dark narrative. That balance worked beautifully.
If I had to change one thing, I might have extended the final
confrontation slightly just to build the emotional and physical climax a bit further. But even without that, the ending still hits hard.
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This review may contain spoilers
I knew I wasn't going to be interested in watching this when I saw the trailer and it turns out I was right. Maybe it was because of the color swatch the director decided to use or having the plot all over the place, either way to me this movie was poorly done.
There was no inspiration in any of the characters none what so ever. There was a lack of character development in all the characters that was in this movie. It was like they were just there to do their role and their role only.
As I mentioned before the plot was all over the place. The 'who' 'what' 'when' 'where' 'why' and 'how' had me so confused. It started off rocky and ended that way. Plus I was disappointed at the ending. Why have a certain character go through all of what he went through only to have it end the way it did.
All in all I was disappointed that I wasted over a hour and a half watching this. Even the lack of fighting scenes wasn't impressive and that's what drew me to this movie in the first place. It stated it was filled with action and there were sparse action scenes throughout.
Sometimes I just need to trust my instincts and move on.
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