Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews

Kevin L A mixed bag for me. There are clearly some of the characteristics of Park Chan Wook's style here- the cold, distanced tone; the dark, underlining nature that human beings carry in them in desperate times; and the depth of emotion his images and actions can stir within us. It's harsh, ugly business. Things whirl out of everyone’s control as both male protagonists lose humanity in each becoming a sort of Mr. Vengeance. There's Park, who kills for understandable reasons in spite of his basic decency, and Ryu who kills for more understandable reasons but loses what empathy we may have had. The physical extremes of the violence, too, are out of control: drownings, a mentally defective spastic; knifings; drugs; aluminum bat bashings, first perfected on a batting range, electric torture, autopsies, cremation, loosened bladders. Not one you're likely to want to sit through again. The first part of the director's revenge trilogy, it may linger in your head well after the end credits. 2.8 stars Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/05/25 Full Review Sams K Definitely a very good piece! A must watch. Maybe the best of the trilogy of vengeance. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/23/24 Full Review Prabudhjeet A Do watch only if your mentally strong. Treat this as a movie only. Although its Artist Park Chan Wok's craft. The cinematography is heavenly, sound design is good and again, the actors gave their 100 percent Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/19/24 Full Review allie a Who is the victim when everyone is criminal ? Film repeats this questions while the victimhood shifts to one another until the need for a rightful vengeance becomes for everyone. As, Park Chan-wook's extremely violent cinematography escalates, our judgment of right and wrong is being destroyed for good. In that way, the narrative reminds Asghar Farhadi's cinematic language. Yet, Park Chan-wook doesn't let us go easily. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/18/23 Full Review S. C As brilliant as the rest of the revenge movies, however this one gives you the choice who you want to root for. That's what I liked the most about it. The movie doesn't make it clear who the protagonist or antagonist is. You are being given the choice. I loved the screenwriting. There's lots of amazing cinematography to find, highlight performances from the actors to watch and great production design to see. I really liked that the music was sparingly used. I feel like the lack of soundtrack enhances the grittiness and realism of scenes, and since the story is not too crazy or theatrical to begin with it was a great choice made. Throughout there's not much to hear but whatever is on screen, thus giving the viewer the freedom to see it for what it is and to feel any emotion without a tune to guide you. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/03/23 Full Review JJJJJJ J This film is really a mixed bag. The first hour is really good. Well shot, compelling narrative, character but the last hour... its just a let done. There is no emotion to it. Its just two men killing people. There is clearly motive and emotion behind their actions, yet the scenes feel as if they lack that emotion. There was a compelling narrative that could have been told but it just isn't... There was more to this story. Many will want to watch this as part of "vengeance" trilogy and in someways I think that makes sense. But for casual viewers looking for a good noir, thriller, etc. to watch there are just better movies and stories out there. I'd recommend staying away from this film unless you watching it as part of the trilogy. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 08/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Most Popular at Home Now