Mantis

“If you want to protect something, then you just do it.”

i went into this film unaware that it was a sequel but i think that was for the best because i would’ve been far more disappointed with this, and i already am.

mantis tries to be a lot of things at once—a comedy movie, an action flick filled with gore, a heartfelt emotional film that focuses on its characters—and it fails at doing most of this considering its less than two hour runtime. i was excited for this because the casting was literally insane and their performances definitely carried the film, but that was the extent of this movies greatness. i absolutely loved park gyu young’s performance and i think her character was the most fleshed out, with jae-yi’s inferiority complex and struggles clearly being her driving motive and acting as the main conflict of the movie as she makes her decisions based on these emotions she’s experiencing. i also thoroughly enjoyed choi hyunwook’s performance as benjamin because he does such a good job playing these bratty and manipulative characters, similar to his character in taxi driver whom i also loved even though he was a little shit. yim si wan’s character han-ul was a very basic character who didn’t have a lot of depth but it was his acting that made him stand out when he wasn’t in an action scene. speaking of those scenes, they were enjoyable for the most part but the best one was honestly the opening scene. the final fight was also slightly memorable but mainly because of a singular shot of yim si wan’s heartfelt and anguished facial expression.

other than the points mentioned above, the rest of the movie is honestly boring. the entire movie is rushed which makes the pacing really off seeing as before i knew it an entire year had somehow passed in the span of like five minutes, there are funky shots in both the good and bad sense as some of them were fun but a lot of them looked ridiculous, and the plot tries to do a lot at once with the sort of love plot between han-ul and jae-yi, the betrayal plot, the group break up, overthrowing and recreating the killer for hire system… it’s just a mess and it’s only mildly entertaining at best.

i definitely won’t rewatch this and i wouldn’t really recommend it, but if you really want to give it a shot i’m sure you’ll at least enjoy the performances done by the really incredible actors in this.

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Decent action movie that left much to be desired

I think that to some extent, my disappointment over Mantis derive from my expectations. I was very excited when I had seen that Si Wan and Park Gyu Young would be in an action movie. The plot of Mantis sounded very promising and the rest of the cast caught my interest, so it was only logical that I would be excited.

Looking back at my initial reaction, I think I should have set back my expectations.

Even from pretty early on onto the movie, I was getting some mixed signals. The film started off well but it lacked the thrill and the pacing was off, especially during the middle part. To be frank, I'm not even sure if the writers were certain about the direction of the movie. Throughout the whole time I was watching, the writing felt disjointed and messy and for the most part, my interest was low.

The direction of Mantis was not very clear. While in Kill Bok Soon the direction of the story was clear from the start, in Mantis I genuinely did not know what to expect. And I'm not saying that as a compliment. Did they want to focus on the comedy? Ha Nul's crush on Jae Yi? Hierarchy and power? It was as if they wanted to cram many things together but since the movie is not even 2 hours long, they couldn't flesh out the story properly.

I appreciate the fact that just like in Kill Bok Soon, the writers wanted to highlight the characters' relationships, particularly Jae Yi and Ha Nul's. Even though I didn't expect the movie to lean on that aspect, I didn't necessarily complain and for the most part, I found their dynamic to be quite interesting. But just like the rest of the story, it fell flat pretty quickly. I wish we had gotten more scenes from their past to add more depth in their friendship and backstory. It was clear that both cared about each other but their relationship was presented in a superficial way.

The action scenes were good and well choreographed. Jae Yi and Ha Nul's fighting scenes were exciting to watch and I liked the differences in their fighting styles. That being said, for a movie that marketed itself as an action-packed one, Mantis did not have many thrilling fighting scenes. The action aspect was not that strong to leave a strong impression and the fighting scenes, albeit serviceable, were lackluster. I was especially disappointed at how little we saw of Si Wan in action, you advertise his character as one of the top assassins and give him so few fighting scenes?

Aside from the poorly written story, the characterisation also left much to be desired. The actors did their job of course, they carried the movie on their backs but their writing didn't do a lot to make them very interesting.

Jae Yi was by far the most developed and explored character. I liked the direction of her motives and how her inferiority complex towards Ha Nul was handled. Park Gyu Young did an excellent job portraying Jae Yi's frustration and bottled up feelings through her expressions and body language, you could easily tell what Jae Yi thought and why she did what she did.

Jo Woo Jin also did a good job with his character, Dok Go who was Min Gyu's former friend. He was commanding and despite his calm exterior, you could sense how dangerous he could be. I admit that relationship and fall-out with Min Gyu mirrored very well Ha Nul and Jae Yi's relationship, I liked the parallels between them. Still, I think that in terms of writing, Min Gyu in Kill Bok Soon was more interesting to watch. Dok Go was kinda one dimensional and I didn't find myself caring a lot about him.

Choi Hyun Wook was a pleasure to watch. His character was also pretty shallow but his performance made him more than entertaining. I liked the way he carried himself, he certainly fit in Benjamin's cocky and overconfident personality and he delivered exactly what was expected from him.

Unfortunately, Ha Nul's character was one of my biggest let-downs. I had expected something entirely different and although I was willing to see the direction of his character once I realised that, the writing didn't do him much favor. I expected a ruthless assassin and I got a kinda immature professional who constantly yearned for his crush. Which is not necessarily bad. We love yearners in this house but in order for me to do so, the character himself should be written in more depth. That wasn't the case with Ha Nul. He came across as too one-dimensional for me to care about him more. His main motive was to protect Jae Yi because he loved her and had a crush on her. Okay. Anything more than that? The film didn't elaborate any further regarding his feelings. The writers (and the characters) tell us that Ha Nul likes Jae Yi and viewers have to accept it. His personality was reduced on his crush, there were some attempts to add more layers in his motives but anything else fell flat. Had it not been for Si Wan's acting, nothing would be able to save Ha Nul from this disastrous writing. For a main character, he really was pretty boring.

Additionally, even though the film tried to establish Mantis as this unbeatable assassin, whom everyone respects, the writing never left any room for him to shine and showcase his potential, until we reached the final part. I was never convinced about Mantis being one of the top assassins like I was with Gil Bok Soon, the writers certainly didn't do much justice to his reputation.

So, Mantis was an average action movie that fell flat in terms of writing. It's a pity that with such a great cast and good production the writers couldn't lock in and provide a better story. Although Kill Bok Soon also had its flaws, it was more thrilling to watch and the story and characterisation were more engaging. I would recommend Mantis to people who're looking for an action movie but do not go in with high expectations.

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Loved it but - This Could've been better

Mantis is the spinoff of the 2023 hit film Kill Boksoon. It tells the story of a power struggle between two
Assassin friends one driven by love and friendship, the other by ego and feelings of inferiority. I enjoyed Im Se-wan, Park Gyu-Young, and Jo Woo-Jin acting.

While this is clearly a story driven film the action plot was also a key element here. The story had a strong potential to become another memorable action drama like Kill Boksoon, balancing equally with stylish action scenes with a solid narrative. However that much of potential is wasted on lengthy conversations between the main leads.

Unlike Kill Boksoon, this movie has relatively weaker camera work and the same goes for action choreography. However the costumes fit the overall vibe of the movie. I recommend this movie if you like a fast-paced, story driven film with less focus on action.

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HAS POTENTIAL BUT THE PLOT FALLS SHORT

This spin off connects well to the MK company from Kill Boksoon. That link makes the spin off feel natural, and it shows how the company's story led to this movie.

The first 10 minutes started strong. I liked seeing Min Gyu again. Right away, the film showed Mantis's fighting skills, I could already catch the mix of humor and gore. I especially enjoyed his fighting style with weapons, it feels refreshing compared to the typical assassin combat we usually see. The color grading and cinematography reminded me of Kill Boksoon but a bit upgrade, which was cool.

The middle act, however, didn't really build up much. It was just okay, with a few conflicts that weren't very surprising. Still, it was great seeing Bok Soon return.

The third act didn't land as strongly as I hoped. It was a bit predictable, though the fight sequences were undeniably entertaining. I just wish the writing carried more punch. Overall, it's a decent spin off with cool action and a good connection to the original, even the story could have been better.

Plot 7/10
Acting and Characters 8/10
Cinematography 8.5/10
Writing 6.5/10
Pacing 7.5/10
OST/Score 8/10

Overall 7.5/10

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Mantis (2025) — A Gritty Blade in the Killer’s Arena

From the very start, Mantis throws you into a world where every knife stroke matters and trust is a rare luxury. I came in knowing some of the cast and expecting action, but what I found was a drama that balances pulse-quickening thrills with quiet moments of tension and introspection. It doesn’t ask for your sympathy easily — it demands your attention, and it earned mine.

At its center is Yim Si-wan as Han-ul, the assassin known as “Mantis.” He brings a fierce confidence and layered vulnerability — he’s lethal, but not without inner conflict. Park Gyu-young as Jae-yi is equally compelling, her presence dynamic and emotionally complex. Their shared history (training, rivalry, expectations) gives weight to each interaction without needing excessive exposition. Jo Woo-jin as Dok-go, the retired legend, adds gravitas and tension, reminding us that in this world the old guard still looms large. The supporting cast — including Benjamin (Choi Hyun-wook) and Sul Kyung-gu as Min-kyu — round out the landscape, each with distinct motives and presence.

What impresses is how Mantis foregrounds action without forgetting emotion. The fight choreography is sharp and fluid, often blending hand-to-hand combat, weapons, and improvisation in a way that feels grounded, not over-the-top spectacle. The pacing dips into quieter scenes just when it needs to let characters breathe, to show the weight of their choices and the cost of this underworld. The cinematography leans moody, shadows stretched long, and the score layers itself under every moment — you feel tension even in silence.

This is my opinion: Mantis may not reinvent the assassin genre, but it proves it can still slice you with familiar blades. Some may say it leans on tropes or that certain plot threads feel a little underdeveloped — and that’s fair — but for me, every actor here played their role with commitment, and the emotional stakes held firm. I demand a show to feel, and Mantis delivered.

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Naah this ain't it for me

I was excited because this was in the same universe as Kill Bok Soon, but sadly, it disappointed me.

Well, already in the beginning, i had a bad feeling about when the first fight was about to happen, and suddenly the main character cracked a joke, like wut?!?!?! It was all serious and shit, but you had to crack one up, and that took me off.

The first fight happened, and it felt off already, because it was so obvious that they were using ropes to do some impossible movements; they weren't even trying to hide it. I came into this movie expecting fights here and there, but for the most part of the movie, it was mostly goo goo gaa gaa toxic romance. I mean, that's fine and all, but it was really messy.

This movie was a let down, sadly. It could've been better, as this is tied to Kill Bok Soon.

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A waste of great casting

I went into Mantis mainly for the cast, and honestly, that was the only reason I managed to sit through the whole film. If it weren’t for them, I probably would’ve dropped it halfway. The action scenes were flashy and entertaining at times, but the storyline was such a letdown that it made the movie feel like a waste of talent.

The story follows Han-ul, also known as “Mantis,” a legendary assassin famous for his skill. After taking a break from the killing world, he comes back to find his former company, MK Enterprise, in chaos following the death of its leader. From there, the film throws us into a power struggle where killers fight to claim the top spot. Han-ul starts a company with Jae-yi, his long-time friend, supporting her from the beginning and even requesting his chairman to give her a chance. However, their venture doesn’t last long, as Benjamin, a wealthy and manipulative young CEO, convinces Jae-yi that being Han-ul’s vice-chairman is a loss for her, prompting her to open her own company. Another retired assassin, Dok-go, also enters the fray, raising the stakes and making the competition even more intense.

On paper, this setup had so much potential. A story about rival assassins, power struggles, betrayal, and twisted loyalty could have been thrilling. Unfortunately, the execution just wasn’t there. The plot often felt messy, rushed, and sometimes illogical, leaving me more confused than invested. Instead of building strong character arcs or an emotional backbone to the story, it leaned too heavily on stylized action sequences that, while fun in the moment, didn’t carry the weight the movie clearly wanted them to.

What made it worse is how underutilized the incredible cast felt. With such a lineup of talented actors, you expect sharp writing and layered storytelling to back them up. Instead, the weak narrative wasted their potential, and even the dynamic between Han-ul and Jae-yi didn’t get the development it needed. Their friendship could have been the heart of the film, but it was overshadowed by plot holes and forced twists.

That said, I can’t deny the action scenes were entertaining. They were choreographed well enough to keep me from shutting the movie off completely. But action alone can’t carry a movie when the story feels this hollow. By the end, I wasn’t satisfied—I just felt like I had watched a film that could’ve been great but fell short because of poor storytelling.

Mantis isn’t the worst movie out there. I don’t really recommend it, but you can watch it if you want to see the cast in action or if you just want some flashy fight scenes.

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Je ne veux pas croire à cette suite

J'ai presque du mal à croire que c'est la suite de Kill Bok-Soon. C'était tellement décevant. J'ai adoré le première film, il était bourré de bonnes idées. C'était visuellement magnifique, chaque plans était réfléchit, avec les bonnes couleurs et les scènes d'action était superbe. Même l'histoire, malgré qu'elle reste simple dans sa construction. Ça abordé des sujets moderne et vraiment intéressant. Son seul défaut c'est que malgré ses 2h20, on en voulait plus.
Là ce que je viens de voir avec Mantis ? olalah ça a perdu tout son charme. Aucun plan mémorable, les scènes d'action était plus aussi élaboré. La storyline ??? J'en parle même pas. Pour moi si ce film n'a pas était fait que pour une question de business je comprends pas. Vraiment décevant. J'aurai préféré une suite sur la fille de l'héroïne du premier film. Bien plus de potentiel.

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Nail-biting three way fight

Kill Boksoon spin off movie set in a generation farther away from the original premise, where the monopoly of M. K. Ent. is already a past thing, now multiple startups are fighting to feed on the leftovers of this sunset industry, some even extend it into other business scope like tech and gaming.

In such desperate era, the story cleverly follows along the new coup d'etat leader of M. K. Ent. and his two young aspiring successors, but having bad blood between each other, as the ambitious buildup pitted them into a complicated three way fight for its high adrenaline triad fighting sequence ending.

It may not have that intense charisma of Jeon Doyeon and Sol Kyunggu have to offer, they're totally phenomenal previously, this movie did make sufficient effort to maintain that quality, as Im Siwan and Park Gyuyoung is still a very convincing pair on screen.

The action choreography, cinematography, and soundtrack, all are well done enough and it is a nail-biting movie that successfully keeps its unique world of killers emotionally valid.

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Mantis is a spin-off set in the same hired-assassin universe as the successful 2023 film Kill Boksoon. This time, the story focuses on Han-ul (Im Si-wan), an elite assassin who returns to the business under the alias “Mantis” after retirement. His comeback takes place during a time of chaos and anarchy in the hitman world, triggered by the downfall of the corporation that once ruled it.

The film unfolds as a thrilling power struggle where three assassins, each with their own skills and ambitions, compete for the title of number one. Alliances are fragile, betrayals are constant, and the old rules no longer apply, plunging the audience into a violent, dark world.

The movie delivers intense, well-choreographed action sequences, a hallmark of South Korean thrillers. Park Gyu-young’s performance as the ambitious Jae-yi stands out for its strength and complexity, offering a more compelling character arc. The premise of a war between assassin factions fighting for control of the market is an intriguing one.

However, the film suffers from pacing issues and a script that stalls while building toward the inevitable final showdown. The tone can also feel inconsistent, shifting between serious drama and forced humor. And while visually stylized, it never quite reaches the elegance or emotional impact of its predecessor.

In summary, Mantis is an entertaining action thriller that expands the Kill Boksoon universe with a story of intrigue and rivalry, even if it doesn’t achieve the same level of impact. It’s a recommended pick if you enjoy brutal action and stories about power struggles in the Korean underworld.

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