Sleight of Film

Today’s quick review: The Vanished. Park Jin-han (Kim Kang-woo) murders his wife Yoon Seol-hee (Kim Hee-ae), a domineering corporate executive, to protect his relationship with his girlfriend Hye-jin (Han Ji-an). That evening, Park receives a call from the police that Yoon’s body has gone missing from the morgue. As Park pieces together what happened, Detective Woo Jung-sik (Kim Sang-kyung) tries to prove that Park is the killer.

The Vanished is a Korean mystery about the missing body of a murder victim. Set in a morgue over the course of one long night, the movie follows Park and Woo as they match wits over Yoon’s suspicious death, her body’s disappearance, and the mounting evidence that points to Park. The Vanished is an intricately constructed mystery with a couple of good fake-outs, making it a fine pick for viewers in the mood for something dark.

The Vanished’s best feature is the scope of its mystery. What begins as a simple murder by a desperate husband soon unfolds into something more, as someone or something takes a posthumous interest in the case. The mystery is very open-ended, and the movie takes care to make sure there always a few viable hypotheses in play. At the same time, The Vanished saves a couple of key surprise for the end and wraps everything up in a tidy way.

The main drawback of The Vanished is that it never reaches the level of tension it wants to. The nature of the plot requires the movie to be careful about how much it reveals and when. The Vanished makes a valiant effort to ratchet up the tension, using theatrics around Yoon’s disappearance, Park’s flashes of guilt, and strange occurrences to keep things interesting. But there is still something missing, and the threats do not feel immediate.

The Vanished is a worthwhile watch for anyone looking for a peculiar mystery with plenty of twists and turns. The movie tosses out plenty of clues and then lets the audience piece them together while the characters follow their own leads. The result is a colorful mystery that still gives definite answers in the end. However, you may want to skip it if you are looking for more intense thrills and a greater sense of unease.

For a Korean movie about a murder victim coming back to life, try RV: Resurrected Victims. For an even more acrimonious thriller about the apparent murder of a manipulative wife, try Gone Girl.

[6.6 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6955298/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for a carefully woven mystery missing a little bit of the intensity it needs.

Today’s quick review: RV: Resurrected Victims. Seven years after his mother (Kim Hae-soo) was killed in a robbery, prosecutor Seo Jin-hong (Kim Rae-won) is shocked when she comes back to life, seeking revenge on her killer. As Seo reopens the case on his mother’s murder, he finds evidence of a cover-up by Son Young-tae (Sung Dong-il) of the NIS. Meanwhile, criminal psychologist Lee Soo-hyun (Jeon Hye-jin) suspects Seo of being the killer.

RV: Resurrected Victims is a Korean supernatural mystery about a murder victim who comes back for revenge. The reappearance of Choi Myung-sook sets off a series of events that unearth old secrets and threaten to ruin Seo Jin-hong’s life. RV: Resurrected Victims has a unique premise and a plot that twists and turns. However, the two halves of the story do not mesh well, making the movie less than the sum of it parts.

At its core, RV: Resurrected Victims is a murder mystery about a seven-year-old cold case. The movie takes a long time to reveal enough clues to get going, but once it does, it evens out into an intriguing mystery. Different characters approach the case from different angles, and there are enough layers to the mystery to make it worth following to the end.

However, RV: Resurrected Victims does not live up to its full potential. The resurrection of Seo’s mother serves as an inciting incident but otherwise impacts the plot only sporadically. As such, the premise of vengeful dead goes largely unexplored. The mechanics of the plot are also shaky. Some of the twists are not fully justified, and the movie does a poor job of framing key aspects of the conflict, especially early on.

As such, RV: Resurrected Victims gets caught between two different ideas without living up to either of them. Those hoping for a macabre story about the return of the dead will find that the movie only touches on the idea briefly. Those hoping for a chilling cold case will have better luck, but a slow start and a couple of missteps will dampen their enthusiasm. Only give it a try if you are willing to sift the good ideas from the mistakes.

For a much more intense psychological horror movie about death and guilt, check out The Machinist. For a supernatural mystery with a lighter touch, try The Sixth Sense. For a more comedic take on the dead seeking justice, try R.I.P.D.

[5.7 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7243750/). I give it a 6.0 for the makings of a good mystery let down by mediocre execution.

Today’s quick review: Missing You. Fifteen years after her father was murdered by serial killer Kim Ki-bun (Kim Sung-oh), Nam Hee-ju (Shim Eun-kyung) gets her shot at revenge when Kim is released from prison. As Detective Jo Dae-young (Yun Je-mun) and his men keep a close eye on Kim to catch him in the act, Hee-ju lays a clever trap for the killer. But the situation turns violent when another serial killer (Oh Tae-kyung) enters the picture.

Missing You is a Korean crime thriller about a young woman’s plan for revenge. Hee-ju, now in her twenties, leads a double life. On the outside, she is a kind, sunny girl who has been adopted by the police station where her father worked. On the inside, she has steeled herself to do whatever it takes to see Kim in prison or dead. What follows is a peculiar game of cat-and-mouse between a killer and one of his victims.

Missing You has a dark and unpredictable plot. Kim is guilty of more murders than he was sentenced for, but the pressure that comes down on him after his release is purely the result of old grudges. Hee-ju’s plan, Dae-young’s determination to send Kim back to prison, and unfinished business with a rival serial killer all put Kim on the defensive. Seeing how Kim, a dangerous and resourceful man, rolls with the punches is one of the movie’s draws.

However, Missing You may be too bleak for some viewers. Hee-ju makes for a sympathetic protagonist, but the violent way she goes about her revenge stains her innocence and turns her into something of a tragic figure. The police, for their part, are compromised by a series of costly blunders that let the situation escalate out of control. The result is a morally grey story where no one is fully in the right.

Missing You is a fine pick for those interested in what it has to offer. The roles its characters fill are different from the usual serial killer story, and this leads to some interesting twists on the formula. Still, Missing You is a shade or two darker than it needs to be, and its story is not entirely cathartic. Anyone looking for a normal investigation should approach with caution. Viewers with a taste for dubious deeds should check it out.

For a crime drama about a vengeful young man taking the law into his own hands, check out Boy Wonder. For more subdued crime drama about a murderer released from prison, try Blue Ruin. For a crime drama about a pair of detectives desperate to arrest a serial killer without much evidence, try The Little Things. For another crime thriller about a serial killer, try The Bone Collector, Kiss the Girls, or Taking Lives.

[6.7 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5545862/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for a bleak but compelling story.

Today’s quick review: Missing. Lee Ji-sun (Uhm Ji-won), a working mother, has her hands full with her career and a bitter custody battle with her ex-husband Jang Jin-hyuk (Go Jun). During the day, she leaves her daughter Da-eun (Seo Ha-nui) with Han-mae (Gong Hyo-jin), a Chinese nanny. But when Lee comes home to find Han-mae and Da-eun missing, she begins a desperate search for them, in the process uncovering dark secrets from Han-mae’s past.

Missing is a Korean mystery about a mother trying to find her missing child. Lee Ji-sun follows a thin trail of clues to piece together who Han-Mae really was and what happened to Da-eun. Missing plays its cards well, opening with the mundane drama of Lee’s life and gradually ratcheting up the tension until the finale. Resonant acting and a strong plot progression make the movie a worthwhile pick for anyone in the mood for something darker.

Missing handles its mystery with skill. The question of what happened to Da-eun drives the plot and keeps the tension high, but the movie sprinkles in smaller questions about Han-mae’s identity that are tantalizing in their own right. Each revelation sheds a little more light on the situation while making the facts of the case more grim. The result is a gut-wrenching puzzle that becomes more captivating as it comes together.

Missing will not suit everyone. Its slow start, dark tone, and highly personal stakes will frustrate some viewers. But for viewers with a taste for uneasy situations and tragedy, Missing offers a well-crafted mystery that delivers on its premise.

For a dramatic mystery about a kidnapped child, try Changeling or Gone Baby Gone. For a crime thriller about a woman’s dark secrets, try Gone Girl. For an offbeat dramatic comedy about a missing baby’s journey home, try Tokyo Godfathers.

[6.5 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6292996/). I give it a 7.0 for a tight plot and effective drama.

Today’s quick review: No Tomorrow. After a mentally handicapped man is found at sea showing signs of abuse, reporter Lee Hae-ri (Park Hyo-joo) and her cameraman Seok-hoon (Lee Hyun-wook) travel to a remote island to investigate the salt farm where he worked. There they receive a cold welcome from the farm’s owner (Choi Il-hwa) and his son (Ryu Jun-yeol) but press on to interview Sang-ho (Bae Sung-woo), an abused worker from the farm.

No Tomorrow is a Korean mystery about a pair of reporters investigating indications of slavery on a remote island. No Tomorrow takes a slow approach to its mystery, following Hae-ri and Seok-hoon as they search for the right island, question the locals, and try to piece together what is going on based on the guarded testimony of the handicapped workers.

No Tomorrow has a subtly ominous atmosphere. Everything from the time Hae-ri and Seok-hoon arrive on the island is just a little bit wrong, from the standoffish residents to the erratic behavior of the workers. Actual threats are few and far between, but the low, constant tension and found footage presentation style keep the movie engaging throughout.

The catch is that No Tomorrow does not have much of a plot. The investigation is a series of puzzle pieces that gradually come together, but the movie is slow about laying them out. The stakes are lower and less immediate than in similar movies. While the plight of Sang-ho and the other workers is tragic at a human level, it is only Hae-ri’s insistence on digging deeper that separates the story from an ordinary expose.

The result is an atmospheric mystery that will appeal to viewers with a taste for realistic crime stories. No Tomorrow does not have the sharp hooks and lurid appeal of similar investigations, but the plausible nature of the story and the slow drip of clues make it worth a watch for the right viewer. Still, No Tomorrow is harder to get into than similar films, and casual viewers may want to skip it.

Check out Parasite for an even darker Korean drama with a black comedy twist. For another thriller set on a remote island, try Shutter Island or The Wicker Man. For an even more low-key crime thriller that takes a turn for the worse, try The Interview, starring Hugo Weaving.

[6.4 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6333380/). I give it a 6.5 for immersive atmosphere and a loose plot.

Today’s quick review: A Special Lady. The JC Group, a criminal organization specializing in blackmail, is on the verge of legitimacy, and Chairman Kim (Choi Moo-sung) is considering settling down with Na Hyun-jung (Kim Hye-soo), the secret mother of his son (Kim Min-seok). But the Group is riven from within when his ambitious lieutenant Im Sang-hoon (Lee Sun-kyun) strikes a deal with Choi Dae-sik (Lee Hee-joon), a crooked district attorney.

A Special Lady is a Korean crime drama about a power struggle within a crime syndicate. As Im makes his move against his boss, Na is cast out and must take drastic actions to protect her son. A Special Lady has a few points in its favor, including some clever power games, an unpredictable plot, and a real sense of danger for the characters. However, questionable plot logic and an overly convoluted story dampen some of the movie’s payoff.

A Special Lady draws a lot of its drama from its criminal setup. The JC Group has elevated blackmail to an art, and Kim, Na, and Im all wield their power with skill. Seeing the group fall to infighting is one of the main appeals of the movie, especially as Choi exerts his considerable influence. Na also makes for a decent protagonist, a resilient and resourceful woman who comes into her own when she is fighting for her son.

Still, A Special Lady can be messy in places. The movie comes up with an elaborate backstory for its characters, one that drives their interactions but requires a little too much investment from the audience to piece together. The characters are interesting at a first glance, but the movie does not flesh them out enough to make them sympathetic. Finally, Im’s takeover attempt is a mixed bag, a mixture of bold moves and questionable decisions.

A Special Lady has a flair for the dramatic, and its twists and turns keep the outcome uncertain until the very end. But the movie does not have the strong foundation it needs, and its coy flashbacks and morally ambiguous characters never find solid purchase. As such, A Special Lady finds itself outclassed by a number of other crime movies, even if it does have something to offer fans of the genre.

For a more compelling crime drama about a power struggle within a gang, try Miller’s Crossing or Road to Perdition. For a more restrained crime drama about an enterprise under a similar sort of pressure, try A Most Violent Year.

[5.6 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7549884/). I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for interesting hooks and mixed execution.

Today’s quick review: Cold Eyes. Ha Yoon-joo (Han Hyo-joo), the newest recruit to the surveillance team of the Special Crimes Unit, has her skills put to the test when a criminal named Shadow (Jung Woo-sung) orchestrates a perfect bank robbery in broad daylight. Working under the guidance of Chief Hwang (Sol Kyung-gu), the team’s brilliant but eccentric leader, Ha watches the streets for any sign of their only suspect.

Cold Eyes is a Korean crime drama about an elite surveillance team on the hunt for a criminal mastermind. Cold Eyes uses this premise to good effect. Hwang and Ha make for a sharp duo. Hwang’s years of experience and keen tactical mind let him coordinate the operation with skill, while Ha’s clear memory and flashes of insight make her an asset despite her inexperience. Their skills are matched by the careful planning and ruthlessness of Shadow.

Cold Eyes’s distinguishing feature is its dedication to the craft of surveillance. The movie has a knack for making stakeouts, undercover work, and monitoring security footage feel like a lifestyle. The meticulous work the characters put in comes across clearly, yet the audience never has to wait long for the next bit of excitement. The characters also have great chemistry together, bringing them to life without resorting to personal drama.

Cold Eyes is a rock-solid pick for anyone in the mood for a criminal investigation. The mechanics of the surveillance are interesting on their own, the cast is easy to like, and the twists and turns of the investigation keep the movie tense and engaging from start to finish. Cold Eyes has a clear vision in mind and executes it well. Give it a shot if you are interested in what it has to offer.

For another battle of wits between a brilliant criminal and the police, try Inside Man or Heat. For a more paranoid thriller about a criminal mastermind, try Accident. For a more minimalistic crime movie about the perils of surveillance, try Following.

[7.1 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2969656/). I give it a 7.0 for a tightly woven plot backed by tense action and a skilled cast.

Today’s quick review: Musudan. When a patrol of South Korean soldiers is killed in the Demilitarized Zone, Captain Jo Jin-ho (Min-Joon Kim) and Lieutenant Sin Yoo-hwa (Ji-Ah Lee) take a squad of soldiers in to investigate. But when they come across mutilated bodies with wounds no human could inflict, they realize the true nature of their mission: to locate and eliminate an escaped biological weapon.

Musudan is a Korean sci-fi survival thriller about a military cover-up on the border between North and South Korea. Captain Jo leads a squad into the jungle in search of an unknown creature, only to learn that the mission could be a death sentence. Musudan gets off to a promising start. It has a workable premise, the trek through the jungle keeps the tension high, and the hints of a ruthless conspiracy are a good hook for later on.

Unfortunately, Musudan does very little with its setup. The movie avoids the trap of revealing its monster too early, but it never figures out a way to make the threat credible. Nearly all of the tension comes from seeing the soldiers get picked off one by one, so by the time the monster shows up, there is little payoff to be had. The movie is also too coy with its conspiracy, never giving the soldiers a real chance to engage with it.

Musudan goes through the motions well enough, but ultimately there is no reason to watch until the end. The biological weapon at its core is neither thrilling nor memorable, some promising characters are never given their due, and the conspiracy, one of the movie’s stronger points, never coalesces into something tangible. Fans of budget sci-fi may get something out of Musudan, but most viewers can do better elsewhere.

Check out Predator for a much more iconic sci-fi movie about a group of soldiers being stalked by an unseen foe. For a budget horror movie with a similar setup, try Armed Response, The Facility, or Doom: Annihilation. For a more entertaining creature hunt in the jungle, try Anaconda.

[4.7 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5447140/). I give it a 5.5 for competent scaffolding with a flimsy core.

Today’s quick review: The Target. When his pregnant wife Jung Hee-joo (Jo Yeo-jeong) is kidnapped, Dr. Lee Tae-joon (Lee Jin-wook) is blackmailed into helping Baek Yoo-hoon (Ryu Seung-ryuong), a gunshot victim and suspected murderer, escape from police custody. In the aftermath, Senior Inspector Song Gi-cheol (Yoo Jun-sang) leads the manhunt for the fugitives, while Inspector Jung Young-joo (Kim Sung-ryung) investigates Baek’s motive for the murder.

The Target is a Korean action thriller based on the French movie Point Blank. The movie is about the unlikely partnership between a wanted fugitive and a doctor trying to get his wife back. The situation quickly devolves into chaos as Baek escapes from Lee and tries to find the men who framed him. The Target’s intricate plot, sharp twists, and healthy amount of action make it a satisfying pick for fans of the genre.

The Target has just the right amount of complexity. There are always a couple of mysteries in play at any given time, and the drip-feed of information keeps the audience engaged from beginning to end. Moreover, the story accomplishes the difficult feat of being chaotic and unpredictable while still wrapping up neatly. Topping it all off, The Target does a capable job with its action, using chases, brawls, and shootouts to keep the tension high.

The Target is an action thriller that shows unusually good judgment. The plot hangs together at every stage, many different characters are given a say in the events, and the action is always used to good effect. Fans of lighter action movies may find it a little serious, and the movie will not change the minds of any critics of the genre, but anyone interested in what the movie has to offer should give it a try.

For an American remake of the same film, try Point Blank starring Anthony Mackie and Frank Grillo. For another thriller about a criminal in the hospital, try Three. For a crime drama about corruption in the police force, try Training Day, Street Kings, or Pride and Glory.

[6.3 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3634940/). I give it a 7.0 for solid execution and a strong plot.

Today’s quick review: Troubleshooter. Private detective Kang Tae-sik (Sol Kyung-gu) has to go on the lam when he is framed for murder. Using the tape that can clear Kang’s name as an incentive, the killer (Lee Jung-jin) forces Kang to kidnap Yoon Dae-hee (Lee Sung-min), a key witness in a corruption investigation. Meanwhile, Detective Choi Sang-cheol (Dal-su Oh) deduces that there is more to Kang’s case than meets the eye.

Troubleshooter is a Korean action thriller about an ex-cop forced to break the law to clear his name. Caught in the middle of a political cover-up, Kang must use his wits to figure out why he was targeted and what to do about it. Troubleshooter offers a fair amount of action and a plot with some interesting twists. However, a weak opening act, a nondescript protagonist, and mediocre fight scenes keep the movie from standing out.

Troubleshooter suffers from poor motivation, at least at first. The frame job on Kang is flimsy enough that he has no reason to run from the police, while the killer goes to a lot of trouble to have Kang kidnap Yoon, a job he clearly could have handled himself. The reasons for these discrepancies are eventually revealed, but the movie plays coy with what is really going on, making it hard for the audience to invest.

Later on, Troubleshooter’s plot becomes one of its strong points. Kang pulls off some clever tricks once he has some idea of what is going on, and the conspiracy to frame him has some good layers to it. Viewers willing to push through the movie’s rough start will find a rewarding second half.

As for its action, Troubleshooter is a mixed bag. The quantity of the action, as well as few bursts of inspiration here and there, should be enough to satisfy fans of the genre. But the overall quality is not that high, and the movie uses choppy camerawork to cover for its basic stunts.

Give Troubleshooter a shot when you are in the mood for an action thriller and are willing to forgive some rough edges. The movie does not stand with the best of its genre, and its poorly motivated opening makes the rest of the movie an uphill struggle for the audience’s approval. But between its well-chosen plot twists and sense of urgency, Troubleshooter manages to be worthwhile in the end.

For an action thriller with a similar plot and similarly shaky execution, try Quicksand. For an action thriller with a similar setup but a more dangerous protagonist, try Shooter. For one that delves even deeper into the political conspiracy angle, try Enemy of the State.

[6.2 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1846803/). I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for a solid plot hurt by a weak start and mediocre action.