As you would expect from Chan-wook Park this is a strange film.
The film starts of with quite a bit of humour, some of it very dark, and with odd slapstick as we see the protagonist as not being exactly bright.
Unlike his later film which kept the humour even as the plot progressed and became darker in this one the humour vanishes once things start to go wrong.
The acting is excellent, Ha-kyun Shin and Kang-ho Song are superb particularly as things become more and more emotionally charged.
The violence is well timed and with one exception not very gruesome.
The plot does jump at times, skipping events and showing you the outcome, and that leaves you a bit disconcerted until you realise what must have happened, I found that a little annoying as it does leave you playing catch-up a couple of times.
The film gives you no clear villain or hero, you can fell sympathy for everyone involved and understand their motives.
The pace is good, and there are several twists and surprises towards the end.
It's better than Lady Vengeance but not as good as Oldboy or Thirst.
The film starts of with quite a bit of humour, some of it very dark, and with odd slapstick as we see the protagonist as not being exactly bright.
Unlike his later film which kept the humour even as the plot progressed and became darker in this one the humour vanishes once things start to go wrong.
The acting is excellent, Ha-kyun Shin and Kang-ho Song are superb particularly as things become more and more emotionally charged.
The violence is well timed and with one exception not very gruesome.
The plot does jump at times, skipping events and showing you the outcome, and that leaves you a bit disconcerted until you realise what must have happened, I found that a little annoying as it does leave you playing catch-up a couple of times.
The film gives you no clear villain or hero, you can fell sympathy for everyone involved and understand their motives.
The pace is good, and there are several twists and surprises towards the end.
It's better than Lady Vengeance but not as good as Oldboy or Thirst.