Dir: Park Chan-wook
Cast: Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran, Cha Seung-won, Yoo Yeon-seok
Park Chan-wook dazzles once again with his striking visuals and wickedly sharp humour in this darkly satirical thriller, though it never quite captures the pulse-pounding urgency of his greatest films
My passion for film first ignited over two decades ago, and from the very start, one filmmaker stood out for me more than the rest: the visionary Park Chan-wook. I first encountered his iconic 2003 masterpiece, “Oldboy”, at an age when its adult themes soared far above my head, yet I was instantly hooked by the boldness of his direction. The striking visuals and his inventive partnership with editor Kim Sang-bum quickly became the signature of a filmography that would shape my cinematic journey.
From the moment I discovered Chan-wook, I devoured his entire body of work, including the other two dark gems in his revenge trilogy, “Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance” (2002) and “Lady Vengeance” (2005). My teenage years were spent amassing a mountain of DVDs, but it was Chan-wook’s films that always claimed the most coveted spot at the front, a constant reminder of the director who had become, and remains, one of my favourite filmmakers of all time.
With age, my appreciation for Chan-wook’s films has only deepened. I now grasp the tangled webs of revenge, guilt, and desire he weaves, and marvel at the moral ambiguity of his characters—something Hollywood rarely dares to explore. After a brief stumble with his slightly disappointing English-language debut, “Stoker” (2013), the Korean maestro has returned to form, delivering some of his most nuanced and mature work yet, and he remains one of the few filmmakers I count down the days to their next release.
After falling in love with “The Handmaiden” (2016) and “Decision to Leave”(2022), my excitement for Chan-wook’s latest, “No Other Choice”, was sky-high. With its delayed UK release finally happening this coming Friday, I was lucky enough to snag an early screening earlier this week. The film’s Oscar buzz after its Venice premiere and Neon’s acquisition only fuelled my anticipation, as it joined the distributor’s select group vying for International Feature at this year’s Academy Awards, but ultimately missed out on a nomination yesterday.
“No Other Choice” definitely leans into dark comedy more than any of Chan-wook’s previous films, embracing the writer-director’s signature twisted humour with a sharp edge. Adapted from Donald Westlake’s 1997 crime novel “The Ax”, the story centres on Man-su (Lee Byung-hun), a successful, veteran employee of paper manufacturer Solar Paper. After years of loyal service, Man-su is suddenly cast aside following an American takeover, and he promises his wife Mi-ri (Son Ye-jin) and their two children that he will find a new job within three months.
A year later, the family is on the brink: savings depleted, their home at risk, and even the family dogs gone, to the heartbreak of the children. After a humiliating encounter with a rival company’s line manager (Park Hee-soon), Man-su grows desperate enough to post a fake job ad, hoping to identify and eliminate his competition. Yet, Man-su is woefully unprepared for murder, leading to a series of absurd and hilarious mishaps.
“No Other Choice” stands as Chan-wook’s most outright comedic film to date, yet his signature style is unmistakable. His direction is razor-sharp, and Kim Sang-bun’s editing once again dazzles with transitions so wild and inventive that only a filmmaker at the height of his powers would dare attempt them. Each scene bursts with visual flair, making the film a feast for the eyes. Beneath the surface, Chan-wook continues to probe timely themes through his singular visual language.
While several other recent films have often tackled capitalism and class, what struck me most was Chan-wook’s raw portrayal of masculinity’s fragility. When a man can no longer provide, he is left adrift, desperate to reclaim his worth. In South Korea, where shame and loss of status carry heavy weight, Man-su’s job loss threatens not just his finances, but his very identity and relationship with his wife, who once enjoyed the comforts his career provided, and now fears and questions her faithfulness towards him.
Lee Byung-hun, familiar to many as the enigmatic Front Man from the hit Netflix series “Squid Game”, delivers a powerhouse performance here. Tasked with making a largely unsympathetic character relatable, Byung-hun transforms Man-su from a smug, comfortable middle-class man into a desperate, broken figure who even pleads for work in a public restroom in a bid for employment. His need for approval and his squeamishness at violence are palpable, making him a hilarious and quite pathetic central protagonist. While some might find the mix of dark social satire and slapstick comedy jarring, I believe Chan-wook’s precise direction melds these tones effortlessly.
My main gripe with “No Other Choice” lies in its pacing. Though the story, direction and Byung-hun’s performance largely held my attention, the film lacks the urgency of Chan-wook’s finest work, sometimes meandering between key moments. For instance, Man-su’s repeated, fruitless visits to his first potential victim’s home slow the momentum. While I understand the intent to show Man-su’s reluctance to murder despite that being his intention, a tighter edit would have kept the narrative sharper. At 139 minutes, the film begins to drag in the latter half, which is a shame given how invested I was.
Perhaps Chan-wook’s love for crafting beautiful scenes made him reluctant to trim side characters and subplots, leaving the film a bit overstuffed but still thoroughly enjoyable. This is the gamble auteurs take with creative freedom, and while he may have been generous in the edit this time, that same approach has led to his masterpieces in the past.
The Verdict:
With “No Other Choice,” Park Chan-wook once again plunges audiences into a labyrinth of dark satire and twisted thrills, laced with surprising bursts of humour. Though it may not pulse with the same feverish energy as his most iconic films, it stands as a testament to his remarkable skill and cements his place among cinema’s elite.
No Other Choice is showing in UK Cinemas from 23rd January
Dan Loves Film 
What a great filmmaker!
LikeLiked by 1 person