Night in Paradise

Park Hoon-jung did not disappoint and serves up a crazily brutal and raw gangster film, another solid addition to his collection. After all the dramas and soft thrillers in 2021, South Korea steps in with its own style and presents a strong and captivating story with dense characters, where everything has its proper place. Visually, it's cool in a Nolan-like way, the pace is occasionally really slow (that's my only criticism), the music is good, the atmosphere is sometimes surreal, the cinematography is more artistic, and when it comes to action, the violence is presented to such an extent that it's almost a celebration of it. Every bastard gets what they deserve here, the atmosphere is bleak, raw, and unpleasant. The film is absolutely uncompromising towards its characters. The finale in the warehouse builds up nicely and the scene in the restaurant is downright shocking and brutal (shootouts reminiscent of Gareth Evans's Gangs of London), and when it came to knife fights, I purred with delight like I haven't in a long time. It's proper masculine stuff and a powerful film. If had a faster pace and added more action scenes, it would be a five-star masterpiece. This film is not for mainstream viewers. 7.5/10. (04/10/2021)

Upon reading the official synopsis, I was bracing myself for a romantic drama, especially considering the listed genre. However, it seems my assumptions were more aligned with Western storytelling conventions. Korean cinema had a surprise in store for me. While romance did have its place in the narrative, it was approached in a refreshingly different manner. The blend of genres worked wonders, and despite my initial reservations, I found myself thoroughly engaged throughout. Hoon-jung Park crafted a film that seamlessly alternated between peaceful drama and heart-pounding action, punctuated by moments of exploration into the human psyche and visceral scenes of bloodshed. It was an exhilarating ride from start to finish, leaving me thoroughly entertained. / Lesson learned: Killing out of necessity looks completely different than when someone really enjoys it. (05/07/2024)

At first I was a little annoyed with the production. You know, too "Netflix-ish", pretending to be America too much, not Korean enough. And since it's been a long time since I've seen the director's earlier (and for me back then, really well done) work, I don't remember if his work was in this vein back in the day. What I did remember, though, is the almost boundless brutality that Park's films are full of. I don't think anyone in Korea can match him for it, either. While I don't enjoy brutality, I have to admit that the ending pretty much made the film good. So if you're tempted by beautiful Jeju, tainted with hectoliters of mafia blood, you should probably see this. Once was good enough for me, 3 stars. (04/29/2021)

Well, I didn’t expect such a high-quality experience. Although Park Hoon-jung is known for successful films in the past, I had low expectations for this film. Firstly, I must praise the setting in Korean nature. Films from this region usually take place in urban environments, particularly Seoul, so I was somewhat oversaturated with that. Additionally, praise goes to the script and direction. Both aspects are rock-solid, and the script surprised me with its polished and clever dialogues. The direction is cold, almost Fincher-like in its detachment and impersonality. On top of that, the well-written characters, especially the central duo, won me over. In terms of action, I can't fault the film; such meticulous craftsmanship in this area is rarely seen, whether it’s the bloody shootouts or the close combat fights. The ending was, in a word, shocking; it literally took my breath away. The epilogue is the best catharsis the creators could have come up with. I haven’t had such satisfaction with a film in a long time. For me, it’s 8.5/10. P.S. There’s no shortage of violence here, so if you’re sensitive, you might want to steer clear :D (04/18/2021)