Park Chan-wook is on my shortlist of best directors, largely thanks to his groundbreaking 2003 film OLDBOY. His directing style masterfully blends extreme violence with strong thematic layers and frequent touches of dark comedy. All his films are visually stunning, with sensuality and classical music propelling the narrative.
With NO OTHER CHOICE, Chan-wook dives even deeper into dark comedy as he explores the cutthroat job market, centering on a protagonist forced to make decisions that will forever alter his and his family’s fate. What works so well in the film is:
- Music – Chan-wook has always integrated music prominently in his films, but this is the first time the soundtrack truly drives both the visuals and the violence. In one of the year’s best suspense sequences, he uses the song ‘Redpepper Dragonfly’ to simultaneously keep audiences on the edge of their seats and laughing at the absurdity.
- Lee Byung-hun – His lead performance perfectly captures a man driven by the pressures of society and family to succeed. It’s a blend of physicality and emotional depth that could make him a dark horse for a Best Actor Oscar nomination.
- Story – With gritty, KILL BILL-esque vengeance vibes, NO OTHER CHOICE unfolds like a revenge thriller, without a true reason for revenge. As we watch Byung-hun’s character spiral through one bad decision after another, we still find ourselves rooting for him, even when his actions are beyond redemption.
Final Thought: Park Chan-wook remains a master filmmaker. While this isn’t his crowning achievement, it’s one of the most entertaining films he’s made since OLDBOY. If only it had been just a bit shorter…
It will play in limited theatres starting Christmas 2025.
