No Other Choice

Park Chan-wook delivers a witty, black comedy short that exposes the dehumanization of modern labor, blending humor and social critique in a visually precise, intelligent style. The film uses irony and paradox to highlight workplace contradictions, keeping audiences engaged while making a sharp commentary on contemporary work culture.

Despite its cleverness, the short runtime limits character and theme development, leaving some ideas only partially explored. Repetitive moments and compressed storytelling prevent the film from achieving a higher emotional or philosophical impact, keeping it just short of true brilliance.

Overall, No Other Choice is an impressive, visually polished critique of modern work that reflects Park Chan-wook's signature mastery of tone, irony, and social satire, making it a must-watch for fans of intelligent black comedy.

In an era where AI and robots are replacing labor, the value of human existence is rapidly diminishing, even threatening the very survival of craftsmanship and intangible heritage. This film captures, with both bitterness and irony, the unease that comes with the march of civilization. Park Chan-wook's signature mise-en-scène and artificial allure shine once again here, as he stages the inevitable dilemma of humans forced to point their guns at one another with a kind of chaotic humor. Among his filmography, this is arguably his most maximalist work, with a raucous ensemble of performances and sound design that gives palpable weight to the spaces they inhabit.

A portrait of our lives in a rapidly changing age, the film also quietly weaves in reflections on family.

Watched at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.

This is no where near the best movie Park Chan-wook has made. But Chan-wook once again strikes another dark comedy thriller exploring about the modern climates of the social class system, labor force, and commentary between people, contradictions, and insanity. Chan-wook has always never shy away from dark yet hilarious approaches with the writing and tone. Throughout, Chan-wook takes liberty on bringing the atmosphere, humor, production designs, camerawork and writing to light with's it's strong ambitious direction. Each scene with the camerawork felt purposeful, the production designs, costumes, music, and sound designs are excellent, and Chan-wook's direction is brilliant and meaningful.

The character portrayed by Lee Byung-hun is interesting as both a depressed, frustrated, at times, pathetic and engaging character. Byung-hun gives one of the best performances in recent times, alongside with the other performances as well. I really enjoyed how the Byung-hun's character was portrayed and developed. As his character resonates with the modern critique of the workforce, people, and the paradox between one another. The writing is pretty great as the irony and satirical aspects explored were well-written and quite brilliant.

While I did wish some of the other characters could have been developed a little more, as a whole, Chan-wook reminds us why he is one of the master's of Korean cinema.

• Watched at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on Sept. 9, 2025 (First Watch)
• Format: Regular theatre
• Rating: 9/10

I could speak about this film for hours and it still wouldn't be enough. Director Park Chan-wook delivers something both unique and deeply characteristic of his style. Paired with actor Lee Byung-hun, the two create a remarkable actor-director synergy, a chemistry that permeates the film from start to finish.

This is a meticulously crafted work, filled with details and Easter eggs that practically demand a second viewing. I'm confident No Other Choice is one of those films that will not only hold up but reveal even more on rewatch-perhaps resonating even stronger the second time around.

Although the narrative moves at a deliberately slow pace, it never drags or feels dull. Instead, it pulls the viewer in, making you eager to follow the protagonist's strange journey-full of questions, twists, and unexpected turns-all leading to an ending that feels worth the wait.

Visually, the film is a feast. Its engaging sequences, combined with elegant editing and seamless transitions-often using dissolves-create a flow that feels both natural and artistic. Park's direction ties everything together masterfully, with the soundtrack standing out as one of the film's strongest elements. One sequence in particular, a tense confrontation involving multiple characters set against a track blasted at high volume, perfectly encapsulates the brilliance of this cinematic experience.

Deeply inspired by the tradition of French classic thrillers, particularly Claude Chabrol, No Other Choice is a beautifully shot dark comedy that will please the fans of Parasite. This absurdist human drama unfolds within stunning woody interiors, enveloped in a lush, menacing forest-green palette. I loved the bold colour choices throughout the movie.

The film expertly immerses its characters in a menacing natural setting, evoking the ruthlessness of the animal kingdom. While the comedy outshines the crime intrigue, the story occasionally lacks momentum. Nevertheless, Park Chan-wook's inventive direction is absolutely incredible and beautiful.