What Is the Story About?
Kill Boksoon follows Gil Bok-soon (Jeon Do-yeon), a legendary killer, the reigning queen in the contract killing industry. She however gets caught up in an unavoidable confrontation just before renewing her contract with the company and is constantly on the fence because of her estranged relationship with her teenage daughter.
Performances?
Jeon Do yeon is the life of Kill Boksoon. The veteran actress brings back super-star badassery after her super raved stint in Beasts Crawling at Straws (2020). She carries every scene, every action block with finesse and her swag deserves a separate mention. Her vulnerable moments with her daughter is a call back to the stupendous dramatic actress that She is. She literally shows who the boss is by killing off two of the most popular South Korean male stars in the beginning and ending of the film.
Analysis
Written and directed by Byun Sung-hyun, Kill Boksoon is a crime action drama that revolves around the contract killing industry. After stamping a name for himself by venturing into romantic comedy, crime action and political drama genres, Kill Boksoon is yet another crime action drama from Byun Sung-hyun after The Merciless (2017). This time he has a woman single-handedly slaying.
Kill Boksoon follows Gil Bok-soon (Jeon Do-yeon), a legendary killer, the reigning queen in the contract killing industry who never misses. Killing is easy but being a parent is more difficult for Gil Boksoon. Despite being in the good books of the CEO of MK ENT, She gets caught up in an unavoidable confrontation just before renewing her contract with the company. She is also constantly on the fence because of her estranged relationship with her teenage daughter.
The opening shot of Kill Boksoon is gorgeous. It places the leading woman and her finesse in *killing* and pre-calculating moves of her opponents by putting her loggerheads with Hwang Jung-min, one of South Korea’s biggest stars. This opening shot is alone to place who Gil Boksoon is in the audience’s mind. After slaying at work, Boksoon has to struggle with her personal life and her relationship with her daughter.
Kill Boksoon’s writing in no time throws light on Boksoon’s troubled childhood and why she is what she is. The unbeatable in business, doing the best anyone could ever. However, she finds it hard to interact with her daughter and also understand her. As a single mother, her personal life also has been bothering her at work when she gets a call from her daughter Gil Jae-yeong’s school for exhibiting violent tendencies. Apprehensive of the future, she causes friction in her place of work.
Kill Boksoon follows how Boksoon tries to manage life and daughter as the lines between violence and life seems to blur. This of course doesn’t go well with the CEO. Kill Boksoon is reminiscent of the late 1990s-2000s neon lights and action films in the way action scenes are shot and choreographed. Also it gives immense pleasure to see a woman ruling the roost where usually it’s a man’s world. And not to forget, Jeon Do Yeon aces it like no other.
Supported by a talented star-cast, Jeon Do Yeon manages to pull off a very entertaining character, even when the screenplay doesn’t give her enough material to infuse heart into the melodrama. The writing tries to superpose the irony of a mother who wishes to be a good parent while being a deadly assassin at work, all at once.
The double-life of Boksoon is the most entertaining part about Kill Boksoon, besides the action ofcourse. But we wish, a bit more effort was put in that regard. Koo Kyo Hwan, who otherwise is a very talented actor is underused in Kill Boksoon. The film is also too long and wears off the attention quite a bit, at times.
In short, Kill Boksoon is fun. But with a super talented star-cast like this and a very interesting premise, the marriage of drama and action could’ve been done better. The climax also could’ve landed differently. Nevertheless, it’s a fun watch with all that action, chase and punches.
Other Artists?
The casting of Kill Boksoon is literally icing on the cake. Sol Kyung gu gives the right anchor to Jeon Do Yeon as Cha Min-kyu, the CEO of the contract killing company and more specifically, the villain of the story. The veteran super star actor and his performances needs no introduction to Korean cinema fans.
Esom also brings the right amount of spunk and energy as Cha Min-hee, Min-kyu’s equally evil sister.
Koo Kyo Hwan as Han Hee-Seong is an underused character. The actor is capable of so much more and is literally the heart of the film alongside Kim Si-a.
Music and Other Departments?
Cho Hyung-rae’s cinematography for Kill Boksoon is super stylish & reminds one of the bygone era of hong Kong triad films and actioners. The opening scene in particular is stellar. Even the action choreography per se. There’s contrast colouring, neon pops and bright lights.
Lee Jin-hee & Kim Hong-jip’s music personally worked for the film, especially elevating the main character Gil. But a careful afterthought looks at it in a way that it didn’t do much elevation for the film’s proceedings like say a John Wick film.
Highlights?
Jeon Do Yeon’s performance
Action set-pieces
Cast
Cinematography
Drawbacks?
a bit too long
Underwhelming finale
Undercooked screenplay
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes.
Will You Recommend It?
Yes.
Kill Boksoon Movie Review by Binged Bureau