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I went into No Other Choice with pretty high expectations, mostly because so many people kept comparing it to Parasite and other big Korean films. And honestly, you can feel the filmmakers really tried to make something meaningful. It's a very good-looking movie - sometimes even kind of breathtaking. The cinematography stood out the most for me: the lighting, the framing, the whole atmosphere. You can tell this wasn't done on autopilot or rushed.

But even with all that, the film didn't fully work for me. It tries to mix satire, drama and thriller elements, and it never really finds a stable balance. Some of the tone shifts felt a bit off. Maybe it's also me not connecting with that specific type of Korean humor, but the satirical stuff didn't land at all. And the dramatic moments felt a little pushed, like they were supposed to hit harder than they actually do. The thriller part also never built the tension I was waiting for.

There are interesting ideas here, and I do respect the ambition behind it. I wouldn't call the movie bad - it's clearly made with care and a lot of effort. It just isn't in the same league as Parasite or anything from Park Chan-wook.

It aims pretty high, and I appreciate that, but the final result feels more like something that "looks" artistic rather than something that really hits emotionally or narratively.

You can clearly feel the influences and structures from Parasite, but the film never reaches the same consistency or impact - every scene in Parasite worked perfectly, while here it mostly feels like an attempt.

So yeah, I'm giving it a 6/10. Mostly because the visual side is fantastic and you can see the work behind it. I just wish the story and the tone matched the quality of the images.

• Watched at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on Sept. 9, 2025 (First Watch)
• Format: Regular theatre
• Rating: 9/10

I could speak about this film for hours and it still wouldn't be enough. Director Park Chan-wook delivers something both unique and deeply characteristic of his style. Paired with actor Lee Byung-hun, the two create a remarkable actor-director synergy, a chemistry that permeates the film from start to finish.

This is a meticulously crafted work, filled with details and Easter eggs that practically demand a second viewing. I'm confident No Other Choice is one of those films that will not only hold up but reveal even more on rewatch-perhaps resonating even stronger the second time around.

Although the narrative moves at a deliberately slow pace, it never drags or feels dull. Instead, it pulls the viewer in, making you eager to follow the protagonist's strange journey-full of questions, twists, and unexpected turns-all leading to an ending that feels worth the wait.

Visually, the film is a feast. Its engaging sequences, combined with elegant editing and seamless transitions-often using dissolves-create a flow that feels both natural and artistic. Park's direction ties everything together masterfully, with the soundtrack standing out as one of the film's strongest elements. One sequence in particular, a tense confrontation involving multiple characters set against a track blasted at high volume, perfectly encapsulates the brilliance of this cinematic experience.

Watched at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.

This is no where near the best movie Park Chan-wook has made. But Chan-wook once again strikes another dark comedy thriller exploring about the modern climates of the social class system, labor force, and commentary between people, contradictions, and insanity. Chan-wook has always never shy away from dark yet hilarious approaches with the writing and tone. Throughout, Chan-wook takes liberty on bringing the atmosphere, humor, production designs, camerawork and writing to light with's it's strong ambitious direction. Each scene with the camerawork felt purposeful, the production designs, costumes, music, and sound designs are excellent, and Chan-wook's direction is brilliant and meaningful.

The character portrayed by Lee Byung-hun is interesting as both a depressed, frustrated, at times, pathetic and engaging character. Byung-hun gives one of the best performances in recent times, alongside with the other performances as well. I really enjoyed how the Byung-hun's character was portrayed and developed. As his character resonates with the modern critique of the workforce, people, and the paradox between one another. The writing is pretty great as the irony and satirical aspects explored were well-written and quite brilliant.

While I did wish some of the other characters could have been developed a little more, as a whole, Chan-wook reminds us why he is one of the master's of Korean cinema.

A first-rate dark comedy film bearing Park Chan-wook's signature and visual style, featuring exceptional and distinctive cinematography with precise camera movements and framing that were truly masterful in this work. The color grading, production design, and editing were also outstanding and meticulously executed.

The performances were top-tier, especially by Lee Byung-hun and Son Eon-jin, who shone brilliantly and delivered strong portrayals that gave their characters real depth and emotional resonance.

The successful blend of dark humor and situational comedy allows the audience to experience laughter and discomfort simultaneously. Moreover, the film is emotionally and sentimentally powerful.

The story itself was good, though at some points a bit vague and ambiguous, and narratively somewhat weak. However, the film's high technical quality compensated for these shortcomings to some extent.

Overall, I truly enjoyed watching this film.

"Paper has fed me for 25 years. Honey, I have no other choice." Park Chan-wook, master of black comedy, definitively already a living legend, delivers yet another masterpiece. So dark, so funny. The plot takes quite a while to fully kick in. But once it does, the film is unstoppably riveting. A flawless central performance from Lee Byung-hun, and fantastic turns from the rest of the cast.🔥