Overview
The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil is an action-thriller film that came out in 2019 and was both directed and written by Lee Won-tae. It merges several genres; crime drama, psychological suspense, and action. The film also has a remarkable cast which includes Ma Dong-seok as the gangster Jang Dong-soo, Kim Mu-yeol as the devoted cop Jung Tae-suk, and Kim Sung-kyu as the sadistic serial killer “K”.
The film was released in May 2019 in South Korea where it received a lot of praise for its stylish direction and performances. The film also screened internationally at major film festivals which gained him Hollywood’s attention. An English-language remake is in development with Sylvester Stallone as the producer and potential casting for Don Lee to reprise his role.
Plot Summary
The film opens in Cheonan with the murder of several random people in the streets. A rigorously calm and emotionless serial killer offered the nickname “K” abducts women, blinding them with their vehicles before killing them brutally by stabbing. The police are not efficient in solving this mystery and have done very little to help helpless citizens.
A young, hot-headed detective, Jung Tae-suk, perceives a pattern to the murders and believes they are the work of an active serial killer. His colleagues think differently and dismiss him as paranoid. Tired of opaque hierarchies, Jung takes matters into his own hands.
Simultaneously, Jang Dong-soo, a notorious gang leader who rules over Cheonan’s criminal world, comes under fire from the murderer while he is ambushed after a car crash on a rainy night. Jang is stabbed multiple times, but remarkably manages to survive the attack after becoming the first and only victim of the enigmatic perpetrator.
Understanding that the gangster could be his sole shot at tracking the serial killer, Jung decides to discuss his theory. To his surprise, Jang agrees to collaborate, but only because it serves his motives. Both with different agendas—Jang seeks vengeance while Jung seeks justice—but a singular target: the killer.
This marks the genesis of a fragile truce between two men who otherwise loathe each other but must join forces to tackle an even more formidable enemy. They begin to track the elusive killer using surveillance, informants, and increasingly dangerous standoffs, leading to brutal clashes with escalating rage. Throughout, each of Jung and Jang try to come out on top, and win the race to the killer, each battling to secure their own approach.
The film’s climax depicts a brutal and tense confrontation comprised of the law, the underworld, and the embodiment of chaos. The resolution leaves space for contemplation on the concept of good, evil, and justice while still feeling satisfying.
Characters and Performances
Jang Dong-soo (Ma Dong-seok)
Jang is a violent gangster marked by his fierce charm and brutal business acumen. Ma Dong-seok vividly portrays him with a combination of awe-inspiring cascades and stunning control; his screen presence commands attention. He adds an element of subdued weakness to Jang that makes his illusive mobster identity richer. Even within the transformation of Jang from an untouchable mobster to a targeted victim, he remains compelling and layered instead of one-dimensional.
Jung Tae-suk (Kim Mu-yeol)
Kim Mu-yeol’s performance as the morally ambiguous detective is filled with energy. Jung is not an archetypal hero; he is an anti-hero and a rebel obsessed more with unchecked personal desires than duty. The dynamic of the film is supported by his chemistry with Ma Dong-seok, who plays the other lead. They advance from contempt to reluctant respect which climaxes in their compelling relationship.
Kang Kyung-ho, “K” (Kim Sung-kyu)
K is a chilling and efficient portrayal of a serial killer, brought to life by Kim Sung-kyu. Even with K’s lack of dialogue aside from a few screams and grunts, his presence is cold, emotionless, and disturbingly terrifying. In a film filled with morally complex characters, K stands out as motiveless pure evil, an anomaly. In every scene he appears, silence and suffocating tension add to the dread.
Themes
Justice vs. Vengeance
The film poses one of its main questions: what does justice entail? As a cop, Jung’s professional duty is to capture the killer, so he can be processed through the legal system. Jang, on the other hand, wants him dead. The narrative delves into the murky waters of legal justice and vigilantism, forcing the audience to reflect on the value of either.
Unlikely Alliances
A gangster teaming up with a cop is a well-worn trope in film, but here, it feels new because of their profound mutual loathing and the urgency that unites them. There is no partnership in this duo – only happenstance – which renders every interaction unpredictable.
The Nature of Evil
The murderer’s motive remains a mystery. He does not speak, does not need to explain, and does not require a backstory. This enshrouds him in a near-mythical portrayal of evil that unsettles both order and chaos. The absence of rationale makes him even more terrifying. It is suggestive that some threats do not require reasoning and can only be counteracted.
Direction and Cinematography
Film director Lee Won-tae captures the aesthetics of the film through gritty realism paired with sleek polish. Urban settings such as drenched streets, neon light bars, and interrogation rooms add to the noir feeling. Smoke lingers around the dimly lit bars, mystically filling the air. The camera fixates on faces, blood, and hands creating an intimate relation to violence.
Action sequences are rhythmically ordered. They highlight Ma Dong-seok’s gravitas. Violence is depicted as a bone-crunching affair that is brutal and unrefined. Fighting is grounded, weighty, and beats without glamorization.
Reception and Legacy
The movie was critically acclaimed and well-received both in South Korea and outside the country. Reviewers praised the performances with Ma Dong-seok’s magnetic screen presence stealing the spotlight. The unique premise invited discussions; a cop partnered with a gangster to catch a killer, and it was considered an inventive addition to the crime genre.
It was also commercially successful and gained recognition among overseas audiences through international film festivals. This earned notoriety as well as substantial critical attention, which led to the announcement of an English-language adaptation of the film where Ma Dong-seok would reprise his role with Sylvester Stallone attached as a producer.
The continuous success of the film illustrates the perceived authority South Korea has built for itself in the world of modern cinema, particularly as it relates to the seamless integration of action, suspense, psychological depth, and intricately structured plots.
Conclusion
The shifts occurring throughout the narrative coupled with relentless action sequences keeps viewers fixed on the ease with which the film, ‘The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil,’ delivers on the violent essence only hinted at in the title. Through a sophisticated blend of potent performances, an ethically ambiguous storyline, and a unique approach to the crime-thriller genre, the picture goes above and beyond exploring genre boundaries to tackle weighty themes like morality, justice, power, and human behavior.
The film centers on three interconnected men who are on a collision course towards chaos. Ultimately, it is not simply about the pursuit of a murderer, but a deeply philosophical tale about the primal instinct of enduring a struggle, supremacy, grappling with a disturbing reality that challenges perception when one encounters senseless evil.
Regardless if you enjoy crime thrillers, character-based dramas, or action-packed films, The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil offers an exhilarating experience that resonates with you well after its conclusion.
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