Frenetic, kinetic action meets satisfyingly soapy drama. See it before everyone tries to copy the best bits.
Filled with casual betrayals, divided loyalties and enough story to spawn a franchise, The Villainess roars along like a runaway train and is a brilliant showcase for Kim, who kicks sand in the face of any Hollywood bad girl.
Plot logic is swept aside in favour of big action set pieces.
The Villainess is a film that startles us not only with its violence and its incredibly intricate action scenes but also with its raw feelings. We are more shocked by the displays of gentleness and selflessness than we are by the expected scenes of stabbings, shootings and decapitations.
This Korean revenge thriller reels from genre to genre with abandon but boasts some exceptional moments.
With a body count in triple digits before the opening credits finish, the bloodily inventive fight sequences work better than the emotional scenes here – and sensible shoes aside, director Jung Byung-gil doesn’t bring much new to the genre.
Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow from Friday September 15, 2017, until Thursday September 21, 2017. More info: http://www.glasgowfilm.org/theatre/
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