Park Chan-wookis one of the most prolific filmmakers of his generation, and while it’s difficult to rank his fascinating and diverse range of movies, there are some projects that stand out as the best. As both a director and writer, Park’s work is distinct, as violence, gore, and tragic romance are all familiar parts of his filmography. Well known for theVengeance Trilogy, most notably the second installment,Oldboy, Park has made a name for himself within the thriller genre, but this is far from the only niche of cinema in which he excels.
Every era of his work has brought exciting new visual and thematic nuance to his style, making audiences and critics excited to see what he has in store for the next phase of his career.The director has recently wrapped filming on his upcoming movie,No Other Choice, featuring Lee Byung-hun, known for his starring role inSquid Game(viaDeadline). He’s known for makingpsychological thriller movies that mess with the audience’s head, using experimental structures and forms to create an intricate portrait of his characters.
The Moon Is…The Sun’s Dreamwas Park’s feature directorial debut,and the director has been vocal about how much he wishes to distance himself from the project. Luckily, it didn’t take long for Park’s desires to come true, as the director is barely associated with this critical and commercial flop. Despite being a crime drama and featuring elements of forbidden love, two narratives that Park would explore later on,The Moon Is…The Sun’s Dreamis nothing like the Park audiences know today.
Though the movie itself isn’t memorable or of the highest quality, there’s still a positive lesson to be learned from the film.
Though the movie itself isn’t memorable or of the highest quality, there’s still a positive lesson to be learned from the film. Park evolved as a director and learned a lot from this misstep, going on to become an acclaimed filmmaker with an unparalleled career. This proves that the road to becoming an auteur of Park’s level is long and difficult, and making some less-than-perfect films along the way is to be expected.
4.9/10
LikeThe Moon Is…The Sun’s Dream,Triois an almost completely forgotten addition to Park’s oeuvre,and the director likely wouldn’t claim either film as a significant part of his filmography.Triois his second feature and takes a step in the right direction after his failed first film. It includes themes of vengeance and desperation, which play a major role in the characters' actions. Lee Geung-young, Jeong Seon-kyeong, and Kim Min-jong lead the film as the titular trio who band together to decide to rob a band to solve their problems.
Though this premise could easily work and be elevated by a director like Park,Triolacks the grace and edge of the movies that Park is known for. While Park would later push boundaries and become renowned for intense displays of graphic violence onscreen,Trioshies away from this style, opting for a more commercial approachto the action. Though it’s a solid film, it pales in comparison to anything Park has done since.
I’m a Cyborg, but That’s OK
Cast
I’m a Cyborg, but That’s OK is a South Korean romantic comedy-drama directed by Park Chan-wook. The film follows Young-goon, who believes she is a cyborg and refuses to eat, and fellow patient Il-soon, who befriends her at a mental institution and attempts to help her overcome her delusions.
Thinking of a romantic comedy as a genre that would appeal to Park creates some cognitive dissonance. However,I’m A Cyborg, But That’s OKis a deeply tender and empathetic look at an unexpected connectionthat blossoms between two people in a mental health facility. Cha Young-goon (Im Soo-jung) believes that she is a cyborg and needs electricity instead of food to survive, while Park Il-soon (Rain) thinks he has the ability to take on other people’s traits as a form of theft.
I’m A Cyborg, But That’s OKdemonstrates Park’s willingness to test out his limits within different genres and discover what works best for him and his style.
As the audience slowly learns about the circumstances that brought them to the same facility, they grow to care for and understand each other, developing an honest love.I’m A Cyborg, But That’s OKdemonstrates Park’s willingness to test out his limits within different genres and discover what works best for him and his style. Few of his other films would tread similar quirky and upbeat territory. However, there’s something universal aboutI’m A Cyborg, But That’s OK, making it a relatable and underrated addition to his body of work.
I’m A Cyborg, But That’s OK (2006)
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78%
6.9/10
Stoker
Stoker is a thriller that follows a young girl named India Stoker, whose father just passed away in a car accident. Soon, India and her mother meet a charming man named Charlie, who claims to be her uncle. Staying with them during this trying time, Charlie reveals that he has sinister intentions that India not only doesn’t heed but instead becomes infatuated with the man.
Though often overlooked amongNicole Kidman’s best movies,Stokerfeatures a chilling performance from the actress thanks to Park’s direction. Also starring Mia Wasikowska and Matthew Goode,Stokerwas Park’s English-language debut and easily demonstrated that his style and understanding of human nature translates to every language and cultural context. One of the few films Park directed but didn’t have a hand in writing,Stoker, is a more typical intergenerational thriller with twists that are exciting but not impossible to predict.
However,Stoker, like all of Park’s work, is flooded with the vivid details and imagery that make up the character’s world, plunging the audience into their web of lies and violence. The film drew numerous comparisons to classic Hitchcock mysteries, butthe resounding reaction toStokerwas that it couldn’t touch the success of Park’s earlier works,particularlyOldboy. Despite this, it’s a compelling watch and is no less diverting than any of Park’s more graphic projects.
70%
60%
6.7/10
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is a South Korean crime drama directed by Park Chan-wook. Released in 2002, the film follows a deaf man and his girlfriend as they take extreme actions to secure a kidney transplant for his sister, leading to an escalating cycle of violence and retribution.
Many icons of South Korean cinema appear inSympathy for Mr. Vengeance, the film that kicked off theVengeance Trilogy, which came to define much of Park’s early career.Song Kang-ho, Bae Doona, and Shin Ha-kyun lead this neo-noir thrillerthat doesn’t have the same critical rating as Park’s other works but is a thrilling good time. Though the violence inSympathy for Mr. Vengeancecan be excessive at times, there’s more to the film than the gore and cynical edge that indicts its characters.
Full of tragedy, devastation, and the worst of humanity’s inclinations,Sympathy for Mr. Vengeanceis one of Park’s most bleak films to date.
Despite its mixed reviews and box office performance,Sympathy for Mr. Vengeancehas aged reasonably well and struck the right tone to establish theVengeance Trilogy. Though the second installment,Oldboy, would be the film that ultimately catapulted Park to international acclaim, the rest of his filmography couldn’t exist withoutSympathy for Mr. Vengeance. Full of tragedy, devastation, and the worst of humanity’s inclinations,Sympathy for Mr. Vengeanceis one of Park’s most bleak films to date.
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7.5/10
Joint Security Area
Joint Security Area is a 2000 film directed by Park Chan-wook, focusing on the tense investigation following the deaths of two North Korean soldiers in the demilitarized zone. A Swiss-Korean investigator attempts to unravel the conflicting narratives from both North and South Korean perspectives.
Joint Security Areais the first movie in Park’s filmography that begins to define his work as a director. It’s clear from the first moments ofJoint Security Areathatthis is when Park was truly coming into his own as a filmmakerand could fully bring his vision to life. The movie takes place in the Korean Demilitarized Zone and slowly untangles the relationship between soldiers on the North and South sides of the zone in the wake of a shootout and the resulting investigation.
The film was massively successful in South Korea, establishing Park as a director to watch and deftly discussing the tenuous situation of the DMZ.Joint Security Areareceived numerous accolades and nominations at the Blue Dragon Awards and the Busan Film Critics Awards. Though Western audiences aren’t as familiar withJoint Security Area,this tense and sweeping thriller is a fantastic example of how Park became such a prominent and iconic director.
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89%
7.7/10
The final installment of theVengeance Trilogy,Lady Vengeance, is the tragic conclusion to Park’s exploration of the cost of revenge.Lee Young-ae gives an incredible performance as Geum-ja, a young woman who loses her daughter and spends years in prison after being blackmailed into confessing to a murder she didn’t commit. Upon her release, Geum-ja does everything in her power to ensure that the real culprit is brought to justice by her hand.
ThoughLady Vengeanceis typically praised for its action and fight scenes, the emotional core of the movie shouldn’t be overlooked.
ThoughLady Vengeanceis typically praised for its action and fight scenes, the emotional core of the movie shouldn’t be overlooked. As with the first two movies in Park’s trilogy,Lady Vengeanceelevates the story of a desperate character who has seemingly lost everything and slowly realizes that terrorizing their enemies won’t give them back the years they lost.Lady Vengeanceis a strong addition to Park’s filmography and shows his evolution as a visual artist.
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87%
Thirst
Thirst is a 2009 film directed by Park Chan-wook, in which a devout priest undergoes an experimental medical procedure, resulting in his transformation into a vampire. Struggling with his new identity, he grapples with moral dilemmas as he develops a dangerous attraction to his friend’s wife.
Thirstisn’t a typicalGothic vampire movieand plays with more modern influences, like medical experimentation and contemporary desire.Viewers will recognize Song Kang-ho, a frequent collaborator with Bong Joon-ho, as the protagonist,Sang-hyun. Religion also plays a large role inThrist, as Sang-hyun is a priest who is transformed into a vampire after a medical experiment goes wrong. However, his growing lust for blood isn’t the only urge that Sang-hyun has to keep in check throughoutThirst.
Like most vampire movies,Thristtackles themes of desire, disease, and social ostracization,as Sang-hyun is both entranced and disgusted by his growing physical powers and the effect they have on others.Thirstis closer to a traditional horror movie rather than the thrillers that Park is known for, but the director proves that he understands how these genres work together. Winning the Jury Prize at Cannes,Thirstset the stage for the next phase in Park’s career after theVengeance Trilogy.
81%
74%
7.1/10
Decision to Leave
Decision to Leave is a 2022 South Korean romantic mystery film directed by Park Chan-wook. The narrative follows a detective who becomes entangled in a complex relationship with a mysterious widow during a murder investigation. Starring Tang Wei and Park Hae-il, the film delves into themes of obsession and duty, blending intricate plot twists with a nuanced portrayal of human emotions.
Decision to Leaveearned Park many accolades after it was released in 2022,earning him nominations at the BAFTAs, as well as a win for Best Director at Cannes. The film follows the example of Park’s earlier work,The Handmaiden, taking on a slower and more contemplative tone, thoughDecision to Leavestill has plenty of action and twists. Following the central relationship between a detective, Jang Hae-jun (Park Hae-il), and the widow of a murdered man, Song Seo-rae (Tang Wei),Decision to Leavesees the characters grapple with their desires and lies.
It’s easy to be sucked intoDecision to Leave, and it’s a testament to Park’s longevity as a filmmaker that his recent works are only expanding his style and skill.
Every moment ofDecision to Leaveis beautifully crafted, and the definitive shots allow the viewer to drink in the gorgeous visuals and sink deeper into the world of the story. Throughout the story, the audience is just as undone by Seo-rae as Hae-jun is, culminating in a heart-shattering ending that will stay with you for a long time. It’s easy to be sucked intoDecision to Leave, and it’s a testament to Park’s longevity as a filmmaker that his recent works are only expanding his style and skill.
Decision to Leave (2022)
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7.3/10
Oldboy
Oldboy follows the story of a man mysteriously imprisoned for 15 years without explanation. Upon his release, he embarks on a quest to uncover the identity of his captors and understand the motivations behind their actions. This gripping tale navigates through themes of vengeance and discovery.
Oldboyis the second installment of Park’sVengeance Trilogy,and it’s by far the bloodiest and best. Starring Choi Min-sik as Oh Dae-su, the complex protagonist ofOldboy, the movie is one of Park’s most intensely violent, and not for viewers who get squeamish at the sight of blood.Oldboyis one of the films that Park is best known for and is widely regarded as the project that catapulted him into a higher level of fame and notoriety.
How RDJ’s The Sympathizer Works As A Stealth Continuation Of A Movie Trilogy That Ended 19 Years Ago
The Sympathizer is shaping up to deftly continue the themes of some of Park Chan-Wook’s most violent and simultaneously most beloved films.
Considered one of thebest revenge movies of all time,Oldboyis a brutal exploration of what the quest for vengeance does to a person and leaves the audience questioning whether it’s always better to know the truth.It’s here that Park highlighted his skills as an action director,deftly creating iconic and engaging shots that display the fight choreography.Oldboystands apart in the thriller genre because not only does it scratch the action-adventure itch that audiences go to thrillers for, but it also has a deeper meaning that makes the viewer think.
82%
8.3/10
