‘I, the Executioner’ Combines Action & Drama With A Bit Of Slapstick

The Korean movie “I, the Executioner” tells the story of a veteran detective and his team in the Major Crimes Investigation Division and how dedicated they are to their profession.

The action crime film is directed by by Ryoo Seung-wan, who won Best Director at the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards for “Veteran.” Hwang Jung-min, who won Best Actor (“12:12: The Day”) at this year’s Baeksang Arts Awards, plays the role of veteran detective Seo Do-cheol, while Jung Hae-in (who is currently starring in the popular drama “Love Next Door”) is rookie cop Park Sun-woo. 

When a professor’s murder reveals links to past cases, suspicions of a serial killer arise, and Major Crimes investigates the case. The killer publicly released a teaser online, indicating the next victim. What Seo Do-cheol and his team see as the work of a serial killer, the public sees as the revenge of a golden-hearted vigilante since the first victims and the succeeding ones are all convicted criminals.

Seo Do-cheol’s team brings in idealistic rookie officer Park Sun-woo (Jung Hae-in), who seems to have anger issues.

The movie appears confused at first. Is it a police drama with lots of action thrown in? Is it a slapstick comedy? Is it a family drama with the police officer as the main character? Is it a commentary about society’s ills such a bullying and fake news? It’s actually all of the above and more.

As Korean filmmakers are wont to do, Ryoo Seung-wan tells a story and it’s not always pretty. There are also scenes that seem unnecessary like the female police officer accidentally opening and sniffing a bottle containing urine and the frequent eating of noodles by the police officers. It’s also perplexing how such smart and experienced detectives could be outsmarted to the point that the killer would know their every move.

But the storytelling skills of the writer and the director somehow convince the viewer that these are all part of the story and as the audience, you are entertained.

As Seo Do-cheol, Hwang Jung-min is excellent. He is alternately fumbling and sympathetic, especially when he is ranting about his job. You feel for him when faced with family problems. You root for him when he succeeds in what he does.

As the rookie detective formerly known as the UFC Patrolman, Jung Ha-ein does well. The baby face is distracting but perfect for this role.

If the film had a shortcoming for me, it’s that it failed to give a back story for the rest of the members of the Major Crimes Investigation Division. It would have been good to see why they seemed so close to each other and what led to this. But this does not make the film any less powerful.

It received consecutive invitations to Festival de Cannes and the Toronto International Film Festival. Officially selected for the Midnight Screening section of the 77th Festival de Cannes in May, “I, the Executioner” made its world premiere to widespread acclaim from international media. Screen Daily

Called it the “the most flawless, astonishing action since ‘John Wick 4’— a sequel that surpasses the original," while the South China Morning Post described it as "more intense action, more solid storytelling, and a rollercoaster experience." Reuters highlighted Ryoo Seung-wan as a director who promises "fresh action and relatable themes," and The Hollywood Reporter lauded his direction as a combination of "entertaining action with sharp psychological and social exploration." Cinemateaser noted that it is "a sequel that does not disappoint, arriving nearly 10 years after the commercially successful ‘Veteran.’”

Showing in movies nationwide, “I, the Executioner” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Discovery company.