The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil

Ticks off all the right boxes:

Lots of cool, vicious bad guys with one of them being really creepy and sick. On the other hand there are lots of dumb, ambitious cops, which are a laughing stock.

Lots of chases, that are quite riveting to watch. Lots of fist and knife fights, that are beautifully choreaographed and thrilling.

And to top it all off there is this contineous drive and suspense that keeps this story propelling forward.

THE cliffhanger: will they get the serial killer?

This story seems to be based on an actual true story, which is out of this world, because the police and the mob were actually really working together to catch a vicious serial killer.

Any bad? The cops are way too dumb to be real. And the gangsters are often way too cool, to be real as well. They used too many exagerated crime movie stereotypes, but then again, they didnt go too much overboard with these exagerations, therefore it still is an exciting and enjoyable crime flick!

This movie is somewhat alike Bad Guys (2014), with the surprising association of a cop (Kim Mu-yeol) and a gangster who heads a local mafia (Ma Dong-seok) in order to track down side by side a villainous serial killer (Kim Sungkyu). An extremely unorthodox attempt but, after all, the end justifies any mean, doesn't it? In spite of a few far-fetched scenes, the dynamic tandem is excellently interpreted and this efficient film is globally based on a breathtaking scenario, spectacular fights and a dark atmosphere.

As an entertaining movie this film stood out pretty well and with some added bonus of captivating performances it has surely caught my attention! The technical sides were well executed too. Especially the cinematography and the overall tonality helped to set the mood. Background score was fitting with the vibe. The action scenes aren't much but They have been presented and choreographed by expert hands. Really liked the leads here the cop and the gangster guy. As a foreign audience I don't know much about them but they must be Pro in their fields; judging by the sheer intensity they represent on screen. Although I must say as much as I adored the performances but didn't really like chemistry build up thing. Their chemistry in-between didn't feel authentic and seemed too uncanny in certain situations. Their friendly gestures towards each other; I still don't get why and how? I mean the gangster guy was ruthless, feared among his men and doesn't like someone who crosses his line but still he was absolutely fine with the cop guy's constant banters and interruptions. That's something I couldn't really relate. Special mention goes to the serial killer guy; he gave a sensational performance. I wished the film have focused more on his backstory or explored in depth with the character rather than giving all attention towards the gang rivalry. A wasted opportunity I reckon. The emotional side was never there, it could have been, if the makers hadn't ignore the antagonist and his nurture as a character.

The film tells quite a unique story of cops joining forces with gangsters to go after a serial killer.

If you single out all these elements (cops, gangsters, a serial killer, a cop teaming up with a gangster), then I've seen and enjoyed them many times before and yet, I don't think I've ever seen them all come together like this.

So, a unique story that relies on well known archetypes. I thought it handled them well enough.

However, if you're looking for a very plausible story line and a masterful intricate plot, well that's just not what this is about. It's more of a fun, entertaining and somewhat gritty movie that mostly revolves around the dynamic between the cop and the gangster. As such, it was also my main source of enjoyment while watching it.

I also liked the cinematography, the acting (cop, gangster and serial killer), action sequences and fight choreographies. It also has a comedic aspect to it, which surprised me but was very welcome and appreciated. Ma Dong-seok's character was the one that stood out the most to me, then the cop. Like I said, the main strength of the film is the dynamic between them. At least that's how I experienced it.

One thing that frustrated me during this film is the dynamic between the cop and his superior. The dialogues were overly repetitive and I think that this is a good example of where the film is lacking. There isn't a lot of depth in this movie and it suffers from it. Especially when you start to stray away from the dynamic duo (cop and gangster).

That's about it. I had a good time watching it and I'd recommend it to those who enjoy these kinds of detective stories and want to have some fun but don't expect exceptional writting and depth.

I give it a 7.5

S I have said before , I don't think I've seen a bad film come of of South Korea.

I especially love their cop films which have an over exaggerated energy that is quite unique and The Gangster, The Cop , The Devil is no different .

After barely surviving a violent attack by an elusive serial killer, crime boss Jang Dong-su finds himself forming an unlikely partnership with local detective Jung Tae-seok to catch the sadistic killer simply known as "K".

This is a blood thirsty serial killer movie that gets straight to the point .

Everyone seems to be on edge as nobody trusts anyone .

It's full of casual violence as well as full on violence, a little bit like a cartoon in some ways.

The story is simple to follow , if not a bit over the top but you don't get to know the serial killer's motives which is a shame .

Ma Dong-Seok is the star of the show . Previously seen in Train To Busan , here he is perfect as the head of the crime organisation and provides a bit of calmness when around the cop who acts like he's drunk fifty cans of Red Bull.

I wouldn't be surprised if this is remade for the American market because the idea of a Gangster teaming up with a cop to catch a killer is a really good one .