While under heavily armed guard, the dangerous convicts aboard a cargo ship unite in a coordinated escape attempt that soon escalates into a bloody, all-out riot. But as the fugitives continue their brutal campaign of terror, they soon discover that not even the most vicious among them is safe from the horror they unknowingly unleashed from the darkness below deck.
Project Wolf Hunting presents itself as one thing and reveals itself to be another. What's played as a straightforward action movie takes an abrupt shift after the first act into what becomes essentially a haunted house type of movie, reminiscent of Alien, taking place on a different kind of ship. As far as its action is concerned, the upfront and unashamed violent nature of criminals fighting to take over the ship from the cops may shock some American viewers but is par for the course with South Korean cinema. Director Kim Hong-seon uses this violence as a metric to show that no matter how horrific the criminals get, they're nothing compared to what's awakening in the belly of the ship. While the reveal of the Alpha is teased throughout the first act, his eventual reveal is a spray of blood and guts for any character, good or bad, that gets in his way.
While the trope of the unstoppable killing machine is a well worn one, dating back to even before 1984's The Terminator, here in Project Wolf Hunting the unstoppable nature becomes exhausting after a while. With the Alpha systematically destroying everyone and everything, there comes a time where viewers will be ready to move on with the story get to the point of it all. This, sadly, leads to a somewhat convoluted and half hearted back story with reveals that are long telegraphed before coming to light. Still, the film survives based off its action, its violence, the full hearted sincerity of the cops to try and do the right thing, and it's few comedic bits sprinkled in throughout.
With little in the way of development (and Lee Do-il barely gets a full story), the actors and actresses that populate the story are forced to rely on charisma and acting talents to convince viewers to care whether they live or die. Enter Seo In-guk as Park Jong-doo, the leader of the criminal element being transported and the character with the most manic energy throughout the film. Seo's mirthful performance brings an element of instability and unpredictability to the character, making for a fun watch. By contrast, Jang Dong-yoon as Lee Do-il, the story's central character, has little more than a handful of lines. Playing the trope of the strong, silent type, it's his lack of lines that makes it difficult for the audience to connect with him or cheer for his success.
Written and directed by Kim Hong-seon, Project Wolf Hunting is a story that delights in its use of violence and savagery. Kim doesn't shy away from the barbaric nature of what's supposed to be some of Korea's most violent offenders. A few minutes shy of two hours, the film's pacing is almost chaotic as its story, which will inevitably have audiences wondering what's left after almost everyone is dead with a solid 30 minutes left to go in the runtime. As a writer, Kim's skills are less sharp. Few characters are fleshed out in any meaningful way with the exception of Lee Do-il, leaving the vast majority of the cast to be fodder for the murder spree both the criminals and Alpha embarks upon.
Overall, Project Wolf Hunting works best when it leans into its cops vs robbers story. Charming and over-the-top villains clashing with earnest good guys out to do the right thing set on a cargo ship in the middle of the sea makes for a fascinating premise. Unfortunately, that premise is undercut by its supernatural element, making for a haunted house story that loses effectiveness as the runtime goes on. Excellently acted, especially by Seo In-guk as a gleeful bad guy, as well as sharp direction from Kim Hong-seon, makes for a fun watch on a weeknight on the couch with drinks.
