When Park Chan-wook got here out with the primary film in his well-known Vengeance Trilogy, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, it could be one of many many movies that paved the trail for Korean cinema. The second movie within the trilogy, Oldboy, was a large success and continues to be one of the crucial in style movies in its style right this moment, tackling themes of vengeance in a gory, bloody method — which the primary characters dub within the title of justice.
As its predominant character, portrayed by Choi Min-sik, finds himself kidnapped for over a decade, he is abruptly launched. He discovers his spouse is gone, and his daughter has been adopted, main him on the trail to revenge. Korean cinema, particularly within the 2000s, usually dwelled on these themes in each crime and thriller motion pictures, making them a number of the hottest genres. Listed here are 10 motion pictures which might be much like Oldboy.
Oldboy (2003)
- Launch Date
- November 21, 2003
- Forged
- Choi Min-sik , Yoo Ji-tae , Kang Hye-jeong , Kim Byeong-Okay
10 The Chaser (2008)
2008’s The Chaser was the primary function movie by director Na Hong-jin, who would later go on to make hits like The Wailing. On this film, the primary character is Joong-ho, a cop who has turned to the darkish aspect. He funds his life by way of being a pimp, however one thing new has cropped up on his radar: two of his intercourse staff have gone lacking. When he ventures to search out out what occurred to them, his life turns into intertwined with a serial killer’s agenda.
How It is Like Oldboy
The Chaser relies on the story of a Korean serial killer from the early-2000s, and Na does a wonderful job of creating this film extremely unsettling. With characters you gained’t wish to root for, it’s a compelling character research all through its run time — identical to Oldboy. Stream on AMC+
9 The Man from Nowhere (2010)
Kim Sae-ron and Gained Bin star in 2010’s Korean motion thriller, The Man from Nowhere, which began off the brand new decade with a bang when it got here out. Gained Bin portrays Cha Tae-sik, a pawn store proprietor who befriends an area lady within the neighborhood who doesn’t actually stay a secure life. When the lady’s mom will get caught up with the native crime lords, the lady is kidnapped, and Tae-sik, too, will get caught in the course of all of this so as to save the lady.
How It is Like Oldboy
Like Oldboy, the primary character of The Man from Nowhere has a mission to attain. Whereas he may not be instantly associated to the lady, So-mi, he nonetheless cares so much for her and her well-being, placing him on a warpath when she’s taken by some fairly horrible folks. Stream on Netflix
8 Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002)
Park Chan-wook kicked off his well-known Vengeance Trilogy with Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, which starred Shin Ha-kyun, Tune Kang-ho, and Bae Doona. Its protagonist is Ryu, who’s each mute and deaf, who works a job on the manufacturing facility so as to pay for his sister’s sickness. When he’s laid off from his job, his anarchist girlfriend means that he kidnap the daughter of an govt on the firm for a ransom, resulting in a disastrous collection of occasions.
How It is Like Oldboy
Oldboy is in the identical collection as Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, making the themes which might be obvious in each motion pictures extra placing once they’re watched collectively. Sympathy is probably not as gory as Oldboy is throughout its working time, but it surely nonetheless strikes up violence within the title of justice. Stream on Tubi
7 I Noticed the Satan (2010)
I Noticed the Satan is the work of director and screenwriter Kim Jee-woon, who has made a reputation for himself up to now few a long time. Lee Byung-hun performs a personality named Kim Soo-hyun, who embarks on a path to revenge when his fiancée is murdered and dismembered by a killer (Choi Min-sik) after getting a flat tire. Because the killer units out to strike down extra victims, Kim vows to take him down, it doesn’t matter what it takes.
How It is Like Oldboy
For many who loved the weather of Oldboy uncovering the thriller parts, I Noticed the Satan is the proper subsequent selection to look at. With stellar performances from Lee and Choi, it’s a must-watch in Korean cinema, particularly when you like thrillers. Stream on Peacock
6 The Villainess (2017)
In The Villainess, Kim Okay-vin reveals up able to destroy and dismantle something that is available in her method. She portrays Sook-hee, who has labored as an murderer for years, however when she has a daughter, she decides she needs to stroll away from this life. Sook-hee will get an house, however when she turns into smitten with the person subsequent door — who, unbeknownst to her, was despatched to look at over her — it might result in her downfall.
How It is Like Oldboy
The Villainess is concurrently like and in contrast to Oldboy; its predominant character is a girl, demonstrating that women-focused tales in motion may be wonderful when executed proper. On the similar time, its core story follows a number of tropes and themes of Oldboy, that are extra typical to the style as an entire. Stream on Peacock
5 Girl Vengeance (2005)
Girl Vengeance
- Launch Date
- July 29, 2005
- Forged
- Yeong-ae Lee , Min-sik Choi , Tony Barry , Anne Cordiner , Su-hee Go , Hye-jeong Kang
When Park Chan-wook got here out with Girl Vengeance, it marked the top of the Vengeance Trilogy, absolutely establishing him as a director to control in Korean cinema. Lee Younger-ae is Geum-ja, a girl who lands herself in jail after being accused of kidnapping and murdering a boy. However, because it seems, she was not the actual perpetrator, and as soon as she will get out of jail, she’s going to hunt him down.
How It is Like Oldboy
Like the opposite two motion pictures within the trilogy, Girl Vengeance is all about discovering the trail to justice — however within the eyes of the primary character. With ethical grey areas and so much to query about what’s proper or unsuitable, it’s the form of film that leaves its viewers considering it after watching. Stream on Tubi
4 The Housemaid (1960)
Kim Ki-young’s 1960 film The Housemaid is a basic staple in Korean movie historical past, and it could change the course of many administrators in Korea. Set in South Korea after the warfare, a newly center class household decides to rent a housemaid. The husband, who works at a manufacturing facility, finds a possible housemaid, however bringing her into the house will change their lives. When he begins an affair with the housemaid, it unlocks one thing very sinister.
How It is Like Oldboy
The Handmaid twists away from the extra overt themes of revenge in Oldboy, however nonetheless has a component of retribution to its story. Critiquing Korean social lessons and society on the time, it’s an unbelievable piece of filmmaking from the interval regardless of being extremely underrated. Lease on Prime Video
3 No Mercy (2019)
Im Gyeong-taek directed 2019’s No Mercy, which has flown below the radar of many Korean cinema followers up to now couple of years. In-ae (Lee Si-young), a girl bodyguard and former fight teacher for the military, witnesses her autistic sister raped by a politician, reacts violently, and lands herself in jail. Upon her launch, she sees her sister’s therapy has worsened, and he or she’s prepared to take down any man who ever harmed her sister.
How It is Like Oldboy
On this movie, the primary character decides to take motion when her sister is harmed, mirroring a serious plot aspect to the battle in Oldboy. Whereas it may not be pretty much as good as Girl Vengeance or The Villainess, it may be fairly stable. Stream on Viki
2 Burning (2018)
Burning
- Launch Date
- Might 17, 2018
- Director
- Chang-dong Lee
Lee Chang-dong got here out with Burning in 2018, and it could turn out to be celebrated on the movie pageant circuit and even acknowledged on the Academy Awards. Yoo Ah-in starred as Jong-su, a Paju-based author grappling along with his father’s authorized issues. When he runs right into a former neighbor and falls for her, it leads him into an odd love triangle. But, when she goes lacking, he has so many extra questions than solutions.
How It is Like Oldboy
Primarily based on a Haruki Murakami quick story, Burning actually is likely one of the greatest Korean motion pictures launched within the 2010s. With friction between its three predominant characters, it slowly morphs and transforms over the course of its runtime, in the end turning into a minor revenge story. Stream on Netflix
1 Pieta (2012)
Pieta
- Launch Date
- September 5, 2012
- Director
- Ki-duk Kim
- Forged
- Min-soo Jo , Jeong-jin Lee , Ki-Hong Woo , Eunjin Kang , Jae-ryong Cho , Myeong-ja Lee
- Runtime
- 104
Kim Ki-duk has turn out to be one of the crucial contested administrators in trendy Koren cinema, along with his work profitable many accolades all through his profession. Pieta got here out in 2012 and gained the Golden Lion on the Venice Worldwide Movie Competition, however its content material is perhaps stunning for some. A younger man, who works as a debt collector, makes use of violence so as to acquire claims. However when a girl reveals up and claims to be a mom, it places him in a headspace the place he questions all the pieces and something he’s ever executed.
How It is Like Oldboy
Like Oldboy, potential incest does play a task within the movie, making this sort of film extremely debatable by way of the characters’ ethical areas within the eyes of viewers. Additionally it is filled with cruelty, making it a tough watch at occasions. Stream on Prime Video
