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8 Action-Thrillers Korean Movies You'll Enjoy

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

When you’re not in the mood for romance and fluff

Sweet romance and fun comedy movies are great and all, but sometimes we’re more in the mood for a bold nailbiter with a darker storyline. There’s a special appeal to dark and gritty movies because the stakes are higher and everything becomes that much more impactful. Whether there’s realistic action or a gripping revenge story, darker movies hit differently. Check out some movies that’ll satisfy below.

Night in Paradise

Night in Paradise tells the story of mobster Park Tae-gu (Um Tae-goo) who hides out in Jeju Island following a brutal tragedy. Having exacted revenge, Tae-gu now has a target on his back. At the island, he meets Jung Jae-yeon (Jeon Yeo-been) who is struggling with her own personal tragedies. Tae-gu’s adversaries continue to pursue him leading to gruesome consequences as night falls in paradise.

Forgotten

Forgotten focuses on Jin-seok (Kang Ha-neul) who witnesses his brother Yoo-seok (Kim Moo-yul) being abducted. Something feels off when Yoo-seok returns with no memory of the past 19 days, prompting Jin-seok to search for the truth behind the kidnapping. This thriller will keep you on your toes with its unpredictable twists and intriguing storyline. Full of suspense, you’ll be shocked as you piece the answers together.

The Drug King

The Drug King is inspired by the true story of an infamous drug lord in Korea in the 1970s. In the film, Lee Doo-sam (Song Kang-ho) is a smuggler who builds his empire and expands into illicit drug trafficking. As he enters the upper levels of drug dealing, he accumulates a lot of wealth in the process. However, with his rise also comes his eventual downfall when he becomes overcome with greed and addiction.

Friend

Friend is a classic Korean movie that is a cult favorite among many. Four boys who grew up as best friends begin to follow their separate paths. Joon-seok (Yu Oh-seong) develops an addiction but recovers as he mourns his father’s death. He then follows his father’s footsteps and becomes a crime lord. Meanwhile, Dong-su (Jang Dong-gun) becomes a mobster within a rival organization, creating a dangerous rivalry between the two friends.

Jo Pil-ho: The Dawning Rage

Jo Pil-ho: The Dawning Rage follows corrupt cop Jo Pil-ho (Lee Sun-kyun) who is being investigated by internal affairs. He attempts to rob a police warehouse with his informant Gi-chul (Jung Ga-ram), but a suspicious explosion derails his plans. Pil-ho ends up searching for Gi-chul’s girlfriend Mi-na (Jeon So-nee) in order to unravel the conspiracy. As the truth unfolds, Pil-ho comes across opponents who are worse than him.

26 Years

26 Years deals with the real-life massacre of innocent civilians in Gwangju in May 1980. The fictional story shows five ordinary people come together 26 years later to assassinate the man who orchestrated the massacre. A policeman, a gangster, an Olympic sharpshooter, a businessman, and a head of a private security firm make up the group seeking revenge. They work together to figure out a way to shoot the former president.

Time to Hunt

Time to Hunt is set in a miserable dystopian future where there is not much hope for a group of outlaw friends. They plot a heist in order to escape and enjoy life in paradise. While they pull off the heist, this attracts the attention of a vicious killer. The killer relishes the game of cat and mouse as he hunts them down. The combination of a casino heist and dangerous pursuit in a grim setting makes for a unique experience.

The Call

The Call shows the chilling aftermath when Seo-yeon (Park Shin-hye) and Young-sook (Jun Jong-seo) begin talking to each other through a phone. They are living in the same home, but are 20 years apart. Seo-yeon is in a precarious situation when Young-sook decides to put Seo-yeon’s life on the line in order to change her own fate. The chilling thriller will have you never looking at fire extinguishers the same way again.

Which of these movies are you going to watch next? View them all on Netflix!

Cha Seung Won

5 Reasons to Watch Korean Noir Film 'Night in Paradise' Starring Cha Seung Won, Jeon Yeo Bin, Um Tae Goo

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Night in Paradise is a delicate noir film that tells the story of a man targeted by a criminal organization and a woman on the verge of death. Gangster Tae-gu (Um Tae-goo) loses his beloved sister and niece when they die in a car accident. Suspicious of a rival criminal organization orchestrating the accident, Tae-gu carries out bloody revenge. Then Tae-gu escapes to Jeju Island and hides out at the home of an arms dealer and his niece Jae-yeon (Jeon Yeo-been). However, Tae-gu is far from safe as night reaches paradise. Check out some reasons why you won’t want to miss out on this film below.

1. Noir Master Director

Director Park Hoon-jung is well known for writing and directing many acclaimed crime and action films. He began his career as a screenwriter for I Saw the Devil and The Unjust. Soon afterwards he made his directorial debut and has hits like New World, The Tiger, and The Witch : Part 1. The Subversion under his belt. As a powerful storyteller of crime and action stories, the director has garnered a solid fanbase. Furthermore, Night in Paradise has already gotten attention for being the only Korean film invited to the 77th Venice International Film Festival.

2. Talented Rising Stars

Um Tae-goo and Jeon Yeo-been are actors you definitely want to keep your eyes on. Um Tae-goo shares the same name with his Night in Paradise character, but the two of them could not be more different. Having steadily gained recognition, you can look forward to the actor receiving more spotlight for his acting skills. Likewise, Jeon Yeo-been is an absolute gem of an actor and very versatile. Currently appearing in the popular series Vincenzo, Jeon Yeo-been continues to impress with the variety of characters she can convincingly pull off.

3. Solid Veteran Actors

Cha Seoung-won portrays Chief Ma who is out for Tae-gu’s blood after Tae-gu targets his boss. As a veteran actor, you may recognize him from some popular dramas like A Korean Odyssey or You're All Surrounded. However, you’ll see a different side to him as the actor expertly executes the character of intimidating Chief Ma. In addition to Cha Seoung-won, other veteran actors like Lee Ki-young, Park Ho-san, and Lee Moon-sik add on to the top-notch acting seen in the film.

4. Unique Type of Noir

There are several elements that differentiate Night in Paradise from other noir films. While it is a gangster movie with blood and action, the overall mood is quite sentimental. Tae-gu and Jae-yeon are melancholy characters and they begin to bond over their shared loss of family members to violence. Even though there is an air of wistfulness, a few scenes including some humor provide an interesting mix to the atmosphere. Furthermore, Jae-yeon is an unconventional type of character not often seen in noir films.

5. Beautiful Jeju Island

The setting of Jeju Island is important to the story as there is a juxtaposition between the beautiful paradise-like island and the violence that takes place there. From the glistening shores to the delicious seafood, the pleasant scenery is nice to take in for those who wish to escape to paradise. While there are tragedies and strife, there is also melancholy beauty amidst the pain. The stunning backdrop definitely adds on to the visual appeal of the film.

Image Courtesy of Netflix