Twenty years later, Park Chan-wook's shocking thriller “Oldboy” continues to enthrall audiences across the globe. Neon's recent 20th-anniversary theatrical re-release of the film proved to be a box-office hit, bringing in crowds of viewers ranging from long-time admirers to newcomers seeing it for the first time. Based on the manga of the same name written by Garon Tsuchiya and illustrated by Nobuaki Minegishi, the feature would help pave the way for a new generation of live-action manga adaptations and further help showcase South Korean cinema internationally. An American remake was released in 2013 by director Spike Lee but with far less successful results.
A man named Oh Dae-su is kidnapped and confined to a prison that resembles a hotel room without understanding who his captor is and the reason for his confinement. Following 15 years of imprisonment, he is released back into the outside world, where he finds himself roped into an endless conspiracy and violence as he seeks revenge against the person who put him through this psychological torture. Through this, he reconnects with old faces and meets a young chef named Mi-do, whom he gradually bonds with. Yet, when Oh Dae-su finally faces the man responsible, he is left with even more questions than answers, further pulled into a nightmarish descent into depravity.
“Oldboy” is a masterpiece. Beyond its substantial influence on Korean cinema, it's a masterfully crafted film from start to finish. Superbly directed and written, Park Chan-wook weaves a cleverly constructed mystery that reels audiences in and keeps them guessing what will happen next, greatly enhanced by the film's complex characters and overwhelming suspense. Initially presented as a gritty crime story about a man's desire for vengeance, it gradually unfolds into a Greek tragedy, coming full circle with a shocking twist that will leave viewers horrified and heartbroken. Through its disturbing content, it also immensely engages with dark humor and gut-wrenching drama. Helping all this are fantastic performances from Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-tae, and Kang Hye-jung.
Production-wise, it's a technical marvel with striking visuals, clever editing, and a transcendent music score by Jo Yeong-wook. The movie occasionally throws in some spectacular action scenes, the highlight being the iconic hallway fight sequence.
