The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil || A Fascinating Korean Thriller

I usually gravitate towards thrillers, but this film took me by surprise with its gritty take on crime and the unlikely partnership that develops between a cop and a gangster. After hearing about this film from a friend, I decided to check it out as he really hyped up the storyline and in all honesty, I’m glad I did. It’s an intense ride from start to finish, with just the right balance of suspense, action and character development.

Synopsis

The film follows a notorious gangster, Jang Dong-soo, who survives a near-fatal encounter with a serial killer. Furious at being attacked and humiliated, Jang is determined to hunt down the killer and make him pay. But he's not the only one interested in catching this mysterious "devil." Jung Tae-seok, a dedicated and hot-headed cop, is also on the killer's trail. The catch? Neither can find him without the other.

Despite their deep hatred for one another, the cop and the gangster form an uneasy alliance, each trying to outsmart the other while working together to bring down the elusive serial killer. But as their hunt intensifies, the lines between justice and revenge blur, and both men face moral dilemmas that test their own codes of conduct.

My Review and Rating

The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil (2019), directed by Lee Won-Tae, is a high octane Korean crime thriller that had me hooked right from the opening scene. The film's raw, violent atmosphere had me on edge the entire time. What really drew me in was the chemistry between the two leads. Especially the gangster. He brings a sense of physicality and quiet menace to the role that made his character both terrifying and oddly charismatic.

Also, the dynamic between the cop and the gangster is what really drives the film. Their begrudging partnership is tense, but also surprisingly entertaining as they constantly try to undermine each other while hunting the killer. The cop is passionate, reckless, and deeply committed to justice, while the gangster is cold, calculating and ruthless. The contrast between these two made for some intense, memorable scenes that kept me glued to the screen.

The killer, on the other hand, was terrifying in his calm, almost emotionless brutality. The film builds him up as a force of evil, someone who kills not for personal gain but for sport, which makes the stakes feel even higher for both Jang and Jung. It’s not just about catching the killer, t’s about who will survive and whose morality will break first.

The pacing of this film is relentless, which is a plus for fans of fast paced thrillers, though at times I felt like the story moved too quickly, leaving little room for deeper character development. Still, the film compensates for this with its action packed sequences, brutal fight scenes, and an unrelenting sense of urgency.

One thing I absolutely loved was the cinematography. The use of dark, gritty visuals paired with tight, tense shots gave the film an ominous atmosphere that suited its theme of vengeance and corruption. It feels like you're dragged into the underworld alongside the characters and that feels absolutely nice.

My only critique would be that the plot is fairly straightforward, and you can predict how some things will unfold. However, the execution of the story and the performances make up for any predictability.

Apparently, The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil is a gritty, heart pounding thriller with excellent performances and enough twists to keep you entertained. It explores themes of justice, revenge and the gray areas in between with a raw, unflinching lens.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Especially if you're a fan of action packed crime thrillers with morally ambiguous characters. It’s not your typical good-vs-evil story as everyone here is flawed, which makes it even more captivating.

I give it a solid rating of ⅘.