THE BEAST (2019)
A lot of the South Korean thrillers that receive mainstream attention overseas might be considered eccentric or darkly comedic, but there is another side to this coin as Jung Ho-Lee’s crime drama shows. This is a bleak and occasionally brutal tale that offers a slick and stylish experience with little in terms of levity or respite. It’s a relentless story brimming with moments of suspense. But it’s also a film full of side characters and sub plots that aren’t always weaved together so effectively during a weighty running time that is over two hours. It’s a consistently polished affair and tonally it never lets up, but as the story progresses there are still some weaker aspects that should be examined.
