Proyecto Wolf Hunting

Project Wolf Hunting is One Crazy Ride. It is impossible to discuss the details of this film without giving spoilers so I will not provide too many facts about the plot and storyline. Project Wolf Hunting is a hyper violent, science fiction, action film that is a lot of fun to watch.

The story surrounds an attempt to transport extradited, deadly prisoners from the Philippines to Korea on a ship secured by the authorities for that purpose. Through a series of incidents the prisoners manage to get free and seek to take over the ship. This part of the film is solid, bloody and violent cops and robbers action which is very gripping and well done. The psychotic nature of some of the prisoners makes the revolt particularly gruesome. HAd this been the entire plot of the movie I think it would have been shorter, but still very good.

After one hour into the film it takes a turn into the realm of science fiction in a way that I didn't see coming, was very resistant to, but ended up really getting engrossed in. It ratchets up the violence and blood in the film to a level rarely seen in modern action and sci-fi.

While you need to suspend belief to enjoy this one, it is not hard. The action, direction,and cinematography all make for a visually engrossing thrill ride. The characters are all interesting and the actors do a good job of "buying in" to the storyline and subplot.

The action and fight sequences are plentiful and fun to watch; although, I am not sure there is as much blood in the human body and the filmmakers seem to display.

Project Wolf Hunting is worth seeing, but not for the Squeamish.

Korean with English Sub-titles.

Plans unravel to transport brutal convicts by air, so they are transferred via ship instead. The police and crew have their hands full as multiple plots to seize control of the freighter are hatched. Just when one faction seems to gain control, another gets the edge. Unfortunately for police, crew, and passengers alike, there is even worse cargo in the hold.

Irreverent and extremely violent, Project Wolf Hunting is a thrilling genre bender that combines action, horror, and science fiction. There are twists to the turns. Darkly comic and creative scenes predominate as when one poor soul is beaten to death with his own arm. Women often get the upper hand, or arm, as the case may be. The director and much of his crew were present for this Toronto International Film Festival midnight madness screening and world premiere. Kim Hongsun, the director, said that literally tons of blood was used to make the film. It is as fun as it is bloody.

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.

Project Wolf Hunting, originally known as Neugdaesanyang, is one of the most brutal movies I have ever watched in my life. This South Korean film of two hours and two minutes is best described as gory action thriller. The story revolves around a group of dangerous criminals of South Korean origin who are extradited from the Philippines to South Korea on a cargo ship.

This film convinces on numerous levels. First of all, the isolated location of a cargo ship gives this movie a claustrophobic, filthy and tense atmosphere. Up next, this movie impresses with vivid pace that is gradually getting more intense towards the finale. The flashbacks going all the way back to the horrors of the Second World War offer some great background information and introduce viewers to a different location.

On the negative side, the brutal scenes in this film are heavily exaggerated. Two and a half tons of blood were used to portray roughly two dozen injured or murdered characters. This fact alone should give you a very good idea of how relentless this movie is. The story is paper-thin as the creators of this movie have just been looking for a weak excuse to justify the violent bloodshed. Whenever a character starts to develop something resembling depth and sympathy, then it isn't long before her or his untimely demise.

At the end of the day, Project Wolf Hunting is an entertaining movie for viewers who appreciate particularly brutal action flicks without any compromises. Switch your brain off and go on this violent fun ride for two vibrant hours. Anyone who expects memorable characters or interesting plot twists should however ignore this film entirely.

This movie brings blood and gore to a new level, and not for the fainted heart. First 5 minutes into the movie, the audience is presented with an explosion and flowing blood. It is going good as the story begin establish itself. A quarter way into the movie when actions start with blood spewing all over the place, the movie falters as the characters reactions are unrealistic and unbelievable!

The characters stand around like puppets as if waiting for their ques to react - to fight back or to die, according to the movie script, instead of reacting accordingly to survive. What could have been a great action movie drowned in 2.5 tonnes of messy fake blood.