The main element of trust and betrayal is what I really liked in this movie. It was dark and bloody but really interesting movie. It didn't bore you and kept you intrigued.
12 Reviews
trust and berayal
sabamidori23 June 2018
Dark and incredibly brutal
Leofwine_draca20 January 2018
Warning: Spoilers
THE MERCILESS is another dark, gritty, and incredibly brutal slice of crime drama from South Korea. I'm surprised that nobody else has reviewed it yet because it's very well made and tells a great little story, similar to the quality of something like ASURA: CITY OF MADNESS. The main character is a young thug and gangster who is imprisoned with some old-timers and forced to fight to make his name known, but he's hiding a dark secret: he's actually an undercover cop. With a two-hour running time this weaves through a complex storyline with ease and directorial slickness, bolstered by a string of reliably astonishing action sequences inspired by the likes of OLD BOY. The violence is incredibly brutal and nihilistic and the story is dark and downbeat as a whole, but that's realism for you. As with most Korean films I've watched, the acgting and technical qualities are exemplary.
Unpredictably written South Korean action film!
Achyut_Prashast_Singh2 July 2018
THE MERCILESS always excited me from the beginning; the moment I found out that it had Sol Kyung-gu in it, and that it was an action movie which was officially selected for Cannes Film Festival, I waited for a proper digital release. I watched it last month and had got up from my seat with a feeling of pure satisfaction which only exceptional movies give me.
THE MERCILESS or BULHANDANG is a highly entertaining action movie. It is an exceptional film which combines action, drama and unpredictable plot twists in an unprecedented manner.
The director for sure has done a great job in extracting the best out of his cast as well as crew. The film really delivers on every front: be it the technical aspects or some other, the film rarely lets one down. It's not a boring film, as right after a decent setup in the early minutes, the film starts delivering knockout action sequences and plot twists very well.
Im Si-wan is the star to watch out for in this film. I watched him only in THE ATTORNEY which was a powerful social drama. In this particular film, he does a lot of action and delivers a solid performance. Sol Kyung-gu: don't know why I always run out of words when it comes to praising him! His act is straightaway an award-worthy one. His crazy laughter adds a lot of fun to the proceedings. Other actors like Kim Hee-won are also very impressive; he adds a great comic flavor to this somewhat dark film.
The film impresses with its well choreographed, violent action sequences which stand out as a major highlight of the film. For sure, there is a lot of bad language used in the film which is enough to put off a lot of viewers, but as it progresses, this no longer remains an issue. The atmosphere built by the director and writers pulls the viewer in it and makes him feel like a part of the narrative. The ways the feel gets darker in the second half without getting melodramatic or boring is perhaps one of the best things about the film.
THE MERCILESS is a masterfully crafted action film from South Korea which effectively entertains the viewer with the best stuff it has got. Also with an outstanding climax, the film makes sure viewers don't soon forget it.
THE MERCILESS or BULHANDANG is a highly entertaining action movie. It is an exceptional film which combines action, drama and unpredictable plot twists in an unprecedented manner.
The director for sure has done a great job in extracting the best out of his cast as well as crew. The film really delivers on every front: be it the technical aspects or some other, the film rarely lets one down. It's not a boring film, as right after a decent setup in the early minutes, the film starts delivering knockout action sequences and plot twists very well.
Im Si-wan is the star to watch out for in this film. I watched him only in THE ATTORNEY which was a powerful social drama. In this particular film, he does a lot of action and delivers a solid performance. Sol Kyung-gu: don't know why I always run out of words when it comes to praising him! His act is straightaway an award-worthy one. His crazy laughter adds a lot of fun to the proceedings. Other actors like Kim Hee-won are also very impressive; he adds a great comic flavor to this somewhat dark film.
The film impresses with its well choreographed, violent action sequences which stand out as a major highlight of the film. For sure, there is a lot of bad language used in the film which is enough to put off a lot of viewers, but as it progresses, this no longer remains an issue. The atmosphere built by the director and writers pulls the viewer in it and makes him feel like a part of the narrative. The ways the feel gets darker in the second half without getting melodramatic or boring is perhaps one of the best things about the film.
THE MERCILESS is a masterfully crafted action film from South Korea which effectively entertains the viewer with the best stuff it has got. Also with an outstanding climax, the film makes sure viewers don't soon forget it.
Beautiful Cinematography, Beautiful Story, Must Watch!
Quilesca7 October 2018
This movie outdid itself - is simply not any dude bro action flick. It has everything that has been lacking in many blockbuster films that I have been waiting for - for years.
I can tell the team behind it were passionate about the project; the sound effects are poignant when it matters the most, the fighting scenes have humour with people flying out of view (I legit laughed out loud), and the cinematography (sometimes like wes anderson), with appreciated story boarding, makes for contrast and relief from the building tension in the full 117 minutes - which I was on the edge of my seat for the entirety of it.
The film feels like it was made with meticulous love and I recommend it for anyone searching for a ride or die action drama.
Hint: invest in the relationships as there is more than meets the eye.
Also, better than Infernal Affairs, better than the american version The Departed, which, come on, hollywood always forgoes about character and relationships to more fighting scenes.
The Merciless didn't skimp on any of the good stuff - it is in a league of it's own. Shippers will be satisfied - I can't wait to get my hands on a director's cut.
I can tell the team behind it were passionate about the project; the sound effects are poignant when it matters the most, the fighting scenes have humour with people flying out of view (I legit laughed out loud), and the cinematography (sometimes like wes anderson), with appreciated story boarding, makes for contrast and relief from the building tension in the full 117 minutes - which I was on the edge of my seat for the entirety of it.
The film feels like it was made with meticulous love and I recommend it for anyone searching for a ride or die action drama.
Hint: invest in the relationships as there is more than meets the eye.
Also, better than Infernal Affairs, better than the american version The Departed, which, come on, hollywood always forgoes about character and relationships to more fighting scenes.
The Merciless didn't skimp on any of the good stuff - it is in a league of it's own. Shippers will be satisfied - I can't wait to get my hands on a director's cut.
Bad, very bad
alon-dar113 June 2018
10 good minutes in a long nerve wrecking boredom, I am a fan of korean cinema, just watched a great korean movie: peace breaker. the merciless is so boring, you start to play games on your phone, and who is the merciless? a real bore, many flashbacks, you can immediatly know if a movie is s**t if half of it is flashbacks, even the action is lousy, this film takes itself very seriously, but in one part, after being hit, a man hears birds chirping, like in a cartoon! terrible
This is what top shelf action crime drama looks like....
s32761699 September 2018
If you want to see what top shelf action crime drama looks like ,The Merciless, as the title translates, is its very definition.
This is a polished, likeable, laughable but ultimately, very dark film. Its essence if you look closely, is a proxy dysfunctional father son styled relationship. The older and younger crime figures play ball, they have fun, they make jokes, hang out, rough house, conspire, collaborate, share the good and the bad.
Of course given the nature of what they are and what they do the outcome was and is, very bleak and could be nothing else. In its closing scenes there's a certain sense of the events of this film coming full circle too. Of loss and a grim kind of anti hero, rebirth.
If you like quality crime drama, with healthy amounts of action, with an adjoiner that this film is violent and occasionally sadistic, then you really can't do better than this offering from Korea. A deeply impressive effort. 10/10 from me.
This is a polished, likeable, laughable but ultimately, very dark film. Its essence if you look closely, is a proxy dysfunctional father son styled relationship. The older and younger crime figures play ball, they have fun, they make jokes, hang out, rough house, conspire, collaborate, share the good and the bad.
Of course given the nature of what they are and what they do the outcome was and is, very bleak and could be nothing else. In its closing scenes there's a certain sense of the events of this film coming full circle too. Of loss and a grim kind of anti hero, rebirth.
If you like quality crime drama, with healthy amounts of action, with an adjoiner that this film is violent and occasionally sadistic, then you really can't do better than this offering from Korea. A deeply impressive effort. 10/10 from me.
honestly not good
jindann21 May 2021
Slow paced and with a story that doesnt make sense which makes it kind of painful to finish the movie, especially the ending, just to create some unpredictable drama but actually too unconvincing to be true. Again ignore all the fake 9 10 ratings that are all ridiculous and dishonest reviews.
deliciously twisted crime thriller
aminifatimaaa14 March 2019
The Merciless is a tense and wonderfully paced film with beautiful cinematography and dynamic camerawork. It's convoluted plot with constant surprises is nevertheless easy to follow and tricky narrative structure that features time-jumps and reversals cleanly delineated. The characters are clearly distinguishable from one another; hard-boiled and violent but also humorous at times. I was fully engaged, entertained and delighted by the effortless expertise and strong performances displayed in every frame.
Amazing film ! Should have Won an Oscar
thirrouard27 July 2021
This movie is really underrated !
To me, It's much better than parasite than won the Oscar of best film this year.
It's a bit darker than I would like, but the plot is very well made and story is completely unpredictable - which is what I reproach to parasite (great film but I already predicted the end from the beginning).
This is so different and well made !
Must watch !
To me, It's much better than parasite than won the Oscar of best film this year.
It's a bit darker than I would like, but the plot is very well made and story is completely unpredictable - which is what I reproach to parasite (great film but I already predicted the end from the beginning).
This is so different and well made !
Must watch !
Story was soo good & different,Not accept movie will be this much great
jsaleem-8970516 April 2020
An Expecational Korean Action,Suspense,Drama movie story was soo good,Engaging & Deep ...Two tottaly different people how attached with each other ,betryal then trust then again Betryal & continue,,,,,Direction,Script was soo good,Story was very different & Acting was soild by all cast especially Gangster guy & Siwan
Gangster drama masterpiece
salmaawhed9 November 2023
This is one of my absolute favorite K-action movies!
I've watched this movie the first time when it came out and rewatched it again now, even with all movies I've come across between and, in my opinion, it's the last decent K-action/thriller movie made so far.
First of all, the actors. Wow! Honestly, Siwan surprised me with how he absolutely nailed this role, Kyung gu is exactly how you'd want the actor for this role to be, and the chemistry between them is top notch.
The movie is not slow pased at all, it's more of a calculated, fermented thing, where every scene and every line has to have a perfect impact. Even better that is switches between past and present to give more depth to characters relationship. This movie is a masterpiece.
I've watched this movie the first time when it came out and rewatched it again now, even with all movies I've come across between and, in my opinion, it's the last decent K-action/thriller movie made so far.
First of all, the actors. Wow! Honestly, Siwan surprised me with how he absolutely nailed this role, Kyung gu is exactly how you'd want the actor for this role to be, and the chemistry between them is top notch.
The movie is not slow pased at all, it's more of a calculated, fermented thing, where every scene and every line has to have a perfect impact. Even better that is switches between past and present to give more depth to characters relationship. This movie is a masterpiece.
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