The Villainess
The brief
Jung Byung-gil throws everything at the wall in this stylish Korean revenge thriller, and most of it sticks thanks to some genuinely jaw-dropping action sequences that feel like they're trying to one-up John Wick. Kim Ok-bin is fierce as the tormented assassin, selling both the brutal physicality and emotional weight of her character's spiral into vengeance. The film runs a bit long and gets tangled in its own convoluted backstory, but when it's firing on all cylinders, the kinetic camerawork and bone-crunching choreography create an almost euphoric adrenaline rush. Perfect for fans of Atomic Blonde or Kill Bill who want their action served with a hefty side of melodrama and don't mind subtitles.
The verdict
If you crave stylish, bone-crunching action sequences with John Wick-level choreography and don't mind subtitles, this Korean revenge thriller delivers an adrenaline rush that justifies its cult following. If you're impatient with convoluted backstories or 2+ hour runtimes, the impressive action can't quite compensate for the bloated melodrama between fight scenes.
Watch with
- 👥 Action junkies who appreciate subtitled films
- ⚠️ Those sensitive to intense violence
Heads up
- Extreme graphic violence and blood (extreme)
- Torture and brutal interrogation scenes (frequent)
- Child endangerment in flashback sequences (moderate)
- Sexual violence referenced in backstory (implied)
Credits
- Director
- Jung Byung-gil
- Cast
- Kim Ok-bin, Shin Ha-kyun, Sung Joon, Kim Seo-hyung, Cho Eun-ji, Lee Seung-joo, Jung Hae-kyun
Official synopsis
Honed from childhood into a merciless killing machine by a criminal organization, assassin Sook-hee is recruited
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with You Were Never Really Here (2017)
Both feature psychologically damaged assassins seeking redemption through violent missions.
Total runtime: 2h 9m + 1h 29m = 3h 38m
