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The Merciless

Play trailer Poster for The Merciless 2017 1h 57m Action Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
73% Tomatometer 11 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Jae-Ho holds power over his fellow inmates and makes the rules. On the outside he is the second in command of a criminal gang, but Jae-Hoe determined to take over the top spot when he is released.

Critics Reviews

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Nick De Semlyen Empire Magazine 10/26/2017
3/5
An ultraviolent Korean crime film with plenty of swagger and visual brio, but still too generic to really stand out from the pack. Go to Full Review
Gail Tolley Time Out 10/26/2017
2/5
South Korea has produced some jaw-dropping action thrillers in recent times, but this one badly needed a bit more wit to go with the wallop. Go to Full Review
Maggie Lee Variety 06/09/2017
Two-thirds into the picture, the switcheroos get so ridiculous one eventually stops caring about any character. Go to Full Review
James Mudge easternKicks.com 10/24/2020
4/5
Although there's nothing new, Byun Sung-hyun's script is multi-layered and sharp, and Sol Kyung-gu and Im Si-wan give what might have been standard fare an entertaining boost Go to Full Review
William Schwartz HanCinema 06/21/2019
At one point the characters get so bored with each other and the story that they get distracted by a random background woman's butt. I didn't blame them. Go to Full Review
Panos Kotzathanasis HanCinema 03/07/2019
"The Merciless" is not a masterpiece, but Byun Sung-Hyun achieved his goal of standing out, at least partially, in his first effort in the genre. If he manages to improve his narrative and limit his imagination a bit, he could become one of the greats, Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Setsen G Jul 21 not going to lie I really liked it and the plot twist was insane! See more Apaan Y Mar 25 I love it, it's giving mixed emotion a very well-played stirring up us, audience. It's not a masterpiece like something that will blew your mind, it's kinda hard to really get on the plot when watching it first time, but when you watch it again or just finish the movie, the plot began to be clear. This movie is more like a movie that will make you cries and all, and I personally very enjoy it. You can feel the chemistry and all as the story running. Love it!! See more 10/07/2018 Absolutely LOVED it. Those who loved Captain America Winter Soldier, those who love shipping, you're gonna love this. The queer coding expected is just what I wanted to watch and I'm excited to get my hands on the directors cut. Anyone watching without interest in the main character's relationship are gonna have it fly over their heads. There is violence but it is subdued with the beautiful cinematography, and gives the viewer endurance till the very end. The time changes is confusing, but by the very end, I could feel it beautiful as the focus of the entire movie was their relationship and it was just what I needed. 10/10 I have been waiting for movies like this, and can't wait for more! See more 06/08/2018 BULHANDANG N'ÉGALE PEUT-ÊTRE PAS LES GRAND CLASSIQUES DU POLAR, MAIS CETTE NOUVELLE ENTRÉ DANS LE CINÉMA SUD-CORÉEN EST DIABLEMENT EFFICACE GRÂCE EN AUTRE À SA MISE EN SCÈNE MAIS PAS QUE. DÉFINITIVEMENT À VOIR POUR LES AMATEURS DU GENRE. See more 08/24/2017 Infernal Affairs given the Korean treatment - bleak, violent and very entertaining. See more camille l 07/03/2017 Sans pitié pourrait presque se faire passer pour une comédie noire pendant 80% du métrage. En effet, le film de Byun Sung-Hyun sait être passionnant, drôle et viscéral en même temps, avec une narration éclatée mais virtuose, à l'image de certains plans du film, qu'on imagine au budget modeste, tant les scènes d'action sont escamotées par des idées de mise en scène assez intelligentes. Malheureusement, après le 27e twist, difficile de conclure sans perdre le fil et c'est là que le réalisateur coréen se plante dans les grandes largeurs, tombant dans un mélodrame franchement décevant. Il n'en demeure pas moins que Sans pitié reste un divertissement réussi, grâce à son interprétation quasi-parfaite, dominée par la merveilleuse Jeon Hye-Jin. Mais on passe à côté d'un tour de force. Dommage. See more Read all reviews
The Merciless

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Movie Info

Synopsis Jae-Ho holds power over his fellow inmates and makes the rules. On the outside he is the second in command of a criminal gang, but Jae-Hoe determined to take over the top spot when he is released.
Director
Byun Sung-hyun
Producer
Lee Jinhui
Screenwriter
Byun Sung-hyun, Kim Minsu
Production Co
CJ Entertainment
Genre
Action
Original Language
Korean
Runtime
1h 57m