No Other Choice

"No Other Choice" is the latest from Korean director Park Chan-wook. I saw it in a film festival and assume it will be more widely available here in the States in the near future.

When the story begins, you see that Man-soo has a good life. He's a manager at a paper plant, has a lovely wife, two kids and lives in an amazingly lovely home. Life is good...and then one day he is fired. Being an older worker, he has a lot of difficulty finding work and later, in desperation, he comes upon the idea of killing his competition for jobs!

To say this movie is dark is an understatement! It's very darkly comical and it's certainly NOT the sort of thing you'd expect to come from Hollywood. It's very well acted, very engaging and is well worth seeing. Not for everyone, however, as it is a bit bloody and nasty, but I think the director did a good job not overwhelming the audience with gore.

No Other Choice is Park Chan-wook's latest experiment in shifting tones and genres-an ambitious attempt to blend dark comedy, critiques of capitalist structures, and the existential anxiety of a middle class on the brink of collapse. Although the result lacks full cohesion, it still carries the unmistakable signature of a filmmaker who, even in his missteps, offers a rare visual and performative brilliance. The film is clearly influenced by the novel The Ax and Costa-Gavras's adaptation, yet Park relocates the narrative to contemporary Korea, transforming a story of professional crisis into a more human meditation on lost dignity and the fear of becoming disposable.

What stands out most is the film's visual precision: minimalist, geometric production design; sudden, playful zooms; and compositions that interweave situational humor with an underlying sense of structural suffocation. However, this playfulness becomes excessive in the middle act, at times pushing the tragic weight of the story to the margins. The abrupt tonal shifts-from physical comedy to psychological suspense-are not always fully controlled, creating a disjunction that contrasts with the meticulousness of Park's recent works like The Handmaiden or Decision to Leave.

Even so, the film reaches a point of real strength in its portrayal of the central character: an ordinary man suspended between wounded pride, a collapsing sense of professional identity, and mounting financial pressure, carrying a kind of bitter innocence within him. Lee Byung-hun's flawless performance-balancing desperation with dry, dark humor-forms the backbone of the film, while his dynamic with the wife character adds emotional depth to the narrative.

No Other Choice may represent a slight narrative retreat in Park's filmography in terms of cohesion, but it remains a vibrant, visually striking work filled with sharp, intelligent ideas-one that mixes the bitterness of economic structures with comic improvisation, and despite its inconsistencies, remains a rewarding experience.

Deeply inspired by the tradition of French classic thrillers, particularly Claude Chabrol, No Other Choice is a beautifully shot dark comedy that will please the fans of Parasite. This absurdist human drama unfolds within stunning woody interiors, enveloped in a lush, menacing forest-green palette. I loved the bold colour choices throughout the movie.

The film expertly immerses its characters in a menacing natural setting, evoking the ruthlessness of the animal kingdom. While the comedy outshines the crime intrigue, the story occasionally lacks momentum. Nevertheless, Park Chan-wook's inventive direction is absolutely incredible and beautiful.

• 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.

Park Chan-wook delivers a witty, black comedy short that exposes the dehumanization of modern labor, blending humor and social critique in a visually precise, intelligent style. The film uses irony and paradox to highlight workplace contradictions, keeping audiences engaged while making a sharp commentary on contemporary work culture.

Despite its cleverness, the short runtime limits character and theme development, leaving some ideas only partially explored. Repetitive moments and compressed storytelling prevent the film from achieving a higher emotional or philosophical impact, keeping it just short of true brilliance.

Overall, No Other Choice is an impressive, visually polished critique of modern work that reflects Park Chan-wook's signature mastery of tone, irony, and social satire, making it a must-watch for fans of intelligent black comedy.