lyntonadam

The word "exhilarating", unfortunately, is not one I use very often in describing either TV or movies these days ( excepting "The Boys" and "Everything Everywhere All At Once" ).

But it most certainly applies to "Kill Bok Soon", as well as a bunch of other superlatives. So let me split my praise into halves : first a brief review of why I adore the film itself, then the larger picture of the other work in writer/director Sung Hyun Byun's CV.

No need for me to recount the plot because it's common knowledge. What's so great is how SHB infuses the 2 hour 20 min run time ( which never drags ) with so much shade and nuance. Not only with characters which are always interesting, but also the story which enfolds them within its bloody embrace. There's an excellent cast and humour too ( sly K-Pop references,for example ), plus the sort of poignant emotion we might not expect from a concept hinging on a corporatized assassin's brotherhood.

For me, a top-shelf script isn't really going to soar without visual style. Thankfully, SHB is fully in love with what his camera and tech in general can bring to the screen. Lighting, shot composition, VFX and editing combine for a trip to aesthetic heaven while the main location is just stunning.

And now to that wonderful bigger picture. My initial introduction to SHB came via a raunchy rom-com he did a few years ago called "Watcha Wearin" ( aka "My PS Partner" ). Hugely entertaining, so I tracked down his earlier films, mostly in the political thriller vein, and found those to be very good as well. Watching KBS, I was reminded of Park Chan Wook's "Oldboy" and the work of Bong Joon Ho : both men known for clever, meticulously crafted scripts. As a writer/director, SHB can generate his own content; which is a good thing. Whether the accolades turn him into a self-indulgent bore favouring epic run times ( I'm too polite to name names, but an oldish American and a younger one come to mind ) remains to be seen. Will he do TV ? A sequel to KBS ? ( I hope not, since it's a perfectly formed gem as is ). What will his next genre be ? Maybe sci-fi, which Bong Joon Ho seems to be tackling with his new movie about cloning, though originality in that sphere seems a big ask.

Whatever the direction, I'm excited to see where he goes next and there are no duds thus far. The other facet of his talent which I love is a playful/mischievous streak he has, nicely exemplified in the final scene of KBS embedded in the final credits. I hope you didn't miss it !

Funny how the IMDB summary refers to "office ladies are absorbed in the daily clique fighting", when it's actually all about real violence ( no guns though, just knives, sticks etc ).

Yes. Who knew that the clerks & admin women from those glass/concrete skyscrapers had a gang thing going ? It's a typically bonkers Japanese concept ( thank goodness ) as a quiet young lady ( Mei Nagano, reminding me of Korean actress Chae Soo Bin ) watches as a formidable newcomer ( the fiercely alpha Alice Hirose ) lays waste to a bunch of rival groups. There's more + a surprise or 2, & I was entertained at all times, though I do wish the central idea was embraced more energetically with the sorts of animations etc that enhanced "Real Girl" & "Love Is War" so well.

Nevertheless, it's cutely self-referential & definitely fun.

The Japanese seem to have cornered the market in odd stories for TV/Film; I'm thinking of "You're My Pet" and "My Girlfriend Is A Serial Killer" amongst others.

Me, I like the unusual. This entry fits the category & in my opinion is more watchable than the rest. Central to the script is a new female student at high school ( Mei Nagano ) whose first interaction is with a senior boy who goes around with a paper bag on his head. Which features a smiley face.

Adapted from a manga, the story inhabits that slightly alien environment where normal logic doesn't always apply, & a high school is bereft of bullying or too many obvious questions. There's just enough going on to hold my interest, & I felt that another draft or two would've offered a huge improvement all round in terms of fleshing things out. Many characters/situations might thus have become even more entertaining & interesting, with scope for it certainly being present ( the officious President of the School Council & his minions are an example ). The direction is also very slow, though the diffuse lighting is both pretty and enhances the aura of a parallel world.

Then again there's the charismatic Ms Nagano, who is a sweet and positive presence throughout. The other factor which kept me invested is curiosity about how this strange story was going to end, plus the conclusion works nicely.