This review may contain spoilers
A creative spin on the familiar serial killer thriller.
What happens when you throw a vengeful gangster boss into the overexposed cop vs. serial killer template? That's the question Lee Wontae asks with his exciting, unpredictable and quirky new film.
The serial killer thriller subgenre doesn't exactly scream exuberant creativity or innovation anymore. It's given birth to some of the finest moments in film history, like Jonathan Demme's Silence of the Lambs, Bong Joonho's Memories of Murder and David Fincher's Zodiac, but the past decade has mostly offered uninspired repetitions, remixes and pure carbon copies.
Lee Wontae's The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil is dangerously close to being another example of that, but fortunately it has a distinct focus that sets it apart from the crowd. The familiar and stable foundations are there, with hot-tempered police officer Jung Taesuk (Kim Muyeol, the cop) conducting a desperate hunt for an equally brutal and elusive serial killer (Kim Sungkyu, the devil). The unique element in the mix is the third party, the refined gangster boss Jang Dongsoo (Ma Dongseok, the gangster) who is moments away from falling victim to "the devil" himself.
Just as the masterful I Saw the Devil asks the question "how badly would it have gone for a serial killer if he had accidentally killed Jason Bourne's girlfriend?", this film poses the question "what would have happened if a serial killer had accidentally targeted a powerful gangster boss but failed to kill him?" It's an intriguing question, and The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil presents the answer in a shamelessly entertaining and effective way.
The dynamic that arises between Taesuk and Dongsoo, who are actually sworn enemies on opposite sides of the law's distinct line, is very exciting, especially when a kind of race to eliminate "the devil" arises first. The question of whether it is a petty corrupt and bureaucratic police department or a mafia organization driven by relentless loyalty and a burning desire for revenge that is best suited to locate a serial killer is undeniably very interesting.
Beyond that, there is no direct thematic depth in The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil, but you get what you pay for, a fast-paced and bombastic cinematic experience that engages you in the moment. That said, it should not be underestimated, because it moves confidently through its narrative with impressive finesse and craftsmanship brilliance. The gritty Seoul environments are beautifully realized through the lens of photographer Park Seseung, Jo Yeongwook's music is wonderfully vibrant and the title's acting trio is incredibly strong. As usual, it's Ma Dongseok (who went straight to my list of actor favorites after his memorable debut in Train to Busan) with his immortal charisma and poise who owns every scene he's in. Cast him in EVERYTHING, please!
In conclusion, The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil doesn't offer any major surprises beyond its ingenious premise, but it's an audiovisual experience that's worth watching and one that I highly value. Korea once again shows that they belong to the world elite when it comes to polished thrillers, and those looking for films of the type I mentioned in the opening paragraph will not be disappointed.
The serial killer thriller subgenre doesn't exactly scream exuberant creativity or innovation anymore. It's given birth to some of the finest moments in film history, like Jonathan Demme's Silence of the Lambs, Bong Joonho's Memories of Murder and David Fincher's Zodiac, but the past decade has mostly offered uninspired repetitions, remixes and pure carbon copies.
Lee Wontae's The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil is dangerously close to being another example of that, but fortunately it has a distinct focus that sets it apart from the crowd. The familiar and stable foundations are there, with hot-tempered police officer Jung Taesuk (Kim Muyeol, the cop) conducting a desperate hunt for an equally brutal and elusive serial killer (Kim Sungkyu, the devil). The unique element in the mix is the third party, the refined gangster boss Jang Dongsoo (Ma Dongseok, the gangster) who is moments away from falling victim to "the devil" himself.
Just as the masterful I Saw the Devil asks the question "how badly would it have gone for a serial killer if he had accidentally killed Jason Bourne's girlfriend?", this film poses the question "what would have happened if a serial killer had accidentally targeted a powerful gangster boss but failed to kill him?" It's an intriguing question, and The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil presents the answer in a shamelessly entertaining and effective way.
The dynamic that arises between Taesuk and Dongsoo, who are actually sworn enemies on opposite sides of the law's distinct line, is very exciting, especially when a kind of race to eliminate "the devil" arises first. The question of whether it is a petty corrupt and bureaucratic police department or a mafia organization driven by relentless loyalty and a burning desire for revenge that is best suited to locate a serial killer is undeniably very interesting.
Beyond that, there is no direct thematic depth in The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil, but you get what you pay for, a fast-paced and bombastic cinematic experience that engages you in the moment. That said, it should not be underestimated, because it moves confidently through its narrative with impressive finesse and craftsmanship brilliance. The gritty Seoul environments are beautifully realized through the lens of photographer Park Seseung, Jo Yeongwook's music is wonderfully vibrant and the title's acting trio is incredibly strong. As usual, it's Ma Dongseok (who went straight to my list of actor favorites after his memorable debut in Train to Busan) with his immortal charisma and poise who owns every scene he's in. Cast him in EVERYTHING, please!
In conclusion, The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil doesn't offer any major surprises beyond its ingenious premise, but it's an audiovisual experience that's worth watching and one that I highly value. Korea once again shows that they belong to the world elite when it comes to polished thrillers, and those looking for films of the type I mentioned in the opening paragraph will not be disappointed.
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