The ending of Park Chan-wook’s Oldboy remains one of the most shocking, brutal, and continues to surprise viewers decades after its release.
Revenge is a topic commonly used in movies, but few revenge stories have left a mark as incredible as Park Chan-wook’s 2003 revenge thriller Oldboy. Since its release, it has become one of the most famous neo-noir films of all time, and one of the best-known pieces of international cinema amongst English-speaking viewers. Its brutal narrative includes elements of vengeance, mystery, action, and psychological drama, culminating in a mind-blowing plot twist that remains one of the most shocking in cinema history, even two decades after its release.
To say Oldboy is violent would be an understatement. However, it is not without a reason. Director Park Chan-wook managed to create a psychological nightmare with many instances of graphic violence, while also maintaining an engaging visual and narrative style that grabs the viewers’ attention and helps them digest the disturbing scenes with more ease. Although the film divided some critics due to its level of violence, since its release, it has become a classic within the genre, and audiences have come to understand Park’s decision and his reasoning behind every violent action. What Is Oldboy About?
Oldboy
Director
Park Chan-wook
Writer
Hwang Jo-yun, Lim Jun-hyung, Park Chan-wook
Based on
Old Boy by Garon Tsuchiya and Nobuaki Minegishi
Cast
Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-tae, Kang Hye-jung
Genre
Thriller, Action
Country
South Korea
Release date
November 21, 2003
Runtime
120 minutes
Box office
$17.1 million
Rotten Tomatoes Score
82%
Oldboy follows the journey of Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik), a businessman who gets mysteriously kidnapped and imprisoned, in complete isolation and without any explanation. In his captivity, he learns that his wife has been murdered, and he is being framed as the prime suspect.
