Directed by: Hong Won-chan (홍원찬) Starring: Hwang Jung-min (황정민), Lee Jung-jae (이정재), Park Jung-min (박정민) Release Date: August 5th, 2020
Although it’s been said a million times, “nobody does the action crime genre quite like Korea” is a phrase that bears repeating. Tried and true, films like The Man From Nowhere (2010), A Bittersweet Life (2005) and The Villainess (2017) are showcases for this signature genre. They feature dark nefarious worlds where wealthy organized crime syndicates leave trails of destruction in their wake as they engage in all-out war with outsiders or former operatives in a beautiful ballet of highly stylized action choreography. And while not every attempt at repeating the successes of the aforementioned titles has been a home-run, the next exhilarating addition to the genre always feels to be just around the corner. Despite some familiar narrative elements, Hong Won-chan’s DELIVER US FROM EVIL is the world’s latest reminder that Korea reigns king of the action revenge genre in world cinema.
On the verge of retirement, a hit-man (Hwang Jung-min) discovers he’s connected to a recent kidnapping in Bangkok, Thailand and decides to wrap up loose ends there before he calls it quits for good. With the help of his associate and a local expat (Park Jung-min), the details of the case drive them deep into the heart of Bangkok’s criminal underbelly. Meanwhile, a ruthless killer from from an elite Yakuza group in Japan, Ray (Lee Jung-jae), the brother of the hit-man’s final target, embarks on a mission to hunt down the hit-man to avenge his deceased brother.
DELIVER US FROM EVIL sees two of Korea’s biggest male acting talents, Hwang Jung-min (Veteran, The Spy Gone North) and Lee Jung-jae (Assassination, The Thieves) together for the first time since headlining the widely successful and now legendary film New World (2013). While Hwang Jung-min as the hit-main in DELIVER US FROM EVIL resembles some of his darker and more unforgiving character roles like in Asura: The City of Madness or New World (2013), audiences will surely be in for a metamorphosis like they haven’t seen before with actor Lee Jung-jae in his role as Ray, a.k.a. “The Butcher.”
Both actors are completely unchained in DELIVER US FROM EVIL as they square-off in close quarters knife fights through dark and dingy hallways and garages. Other action set pieces are highlighted with elaborate shootouts and exhilarating chases through the crowded streets of Bangkok. With near superhuman fighting prowess, each man is capable of taking down dozens of foes at a time and without help. This makes for an epic clash of titans that resembles something out of a super-soldier movie. DELIVER US FROM EVIL also employs some innovative stop-motion camera techniques during the chaotic brawls that create some cool and fresh looks at the action that will have audiences bobbing and weaving the furious blows from their seats.
Amidst the on-screen carnage in DELIVER US FROM EVIL is a surprising character role filled by the rising young talent Park Jung-min (Dongju: Portrait of a Poet, Keys to the Heart). It appears all that promotion of the film thus far has lacked the inclusion of this character so for those looking to avoid all possible spoilers, please move on to the next paragraph. MINOR SPOILER: Park plays the role of a trans woman acquainted with the hit-man’s (Hwang Jung-min) associate in Bangkok. At the lure of receiving enough money to pay for her surgeries, she decides to assist the hit-man in getting the information he needs from her nightlife connections. So it’s worth noting that due to the small number of roles depicting transgender characters in movies, this character could potentially generate some controversy in its portrayal. END SPOILER: But the role is extremely well filled by Park, both acted and written with a great blend of drama and humor that ultimately becomes the key ingredient in giving DELIVER US FROM EVIL an unorthodox spin on otherwise traditional narrative beats.
The action spectacle aside, DELIVER US FROM EVIL brings together Korea’s top artistic talents to create an audio visual feast like none other. Cinematographer Hong Gyeong-pyo (PARASITE, BURNING) has once again immortalized images onto my brain with jaw-dropping visual splendor that erupts into a cacophony of furious action. Spanning the varied backdrops of Korea, Japan, and Thailand, the on-location photography is beautifully captured with distinct coloration used to bring each locale to life. Accompanied by a score from music composer Mowg (I SAW THE DEVIL, BURNING) that’s both gripping and hypnotic, DELIVER US FROM EVIL is a rare cinematic treat that commands attention.
The overall narrative in DELIVER US FROM EVIL isn’t insanely epic or thought provoking and some of it feels rather familiar. But it’s enough to get the ball rolling and let the art team and actors work their magic. The film feels like a love letter to genre film fans, and will most certainly be making its way through various festivals over the next year or so. At all costs, DELIVER US FROM EVIL should be seen on the largest screen possible with the music cranked up to maximize the enjoyment in this long overdue ride through vintage Korean action style. As a fan myself, I sincerely hope that the current health crisis around the world allows viewers the opportunity to experience the film this way.
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