Film Review: Hunt
Lee Jung-jae (Squid Game) crafts a splendidly enthralling spy thriller
Quick Facts
Director: Lee Jung-jae
Top-Billed Cast: Lee Jung-jae, Heo Sung-tae, Jung Woo-sung, Hye-jin Jeon
Genre: Thriller, Action
Language: Korean
Cinematic Release Date: May 19 (France)
The Korean entertainment industry consistently produces high-quality films that take tired genres to the next level, and Hunt is no exception. Chances are, you’ve seen your fair share of political thrillers. Now, imagine a film that incorporates all of the same tropes and conventions but does it far better than any of the recent cookie-cutter nail-biters from Hollywood. That’s Hunt.
In this breakneck spy flick, KCIA agents Pyung-ho (Jung-jae) and Jung-do (Woo-sung) race to uncover an insidious plot to upend the South Korean government. Rumors of a mole instigate an Infernal Affairs situation that devolves into betrayal and bloodshed of epic proportions. While in Cannes, I caught the midnight world premiere of Jung-jae’s directorial debut. And suffice to say, I’d no trouble staying awake throughout this exhilarating thriller.
