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The Killer: A Girl Who Deserves to Die

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The Killer
Korean name
Hangul
더 킬러: 죽어도 되는 아이
Revised RomanizationDeo Killeo: Jugeodo Doeneun Ai
McCune–ReischauerTŏ K'illŏ: Chugŏdo Toenŭn Ai
Directed byChoi Jae-hoon
Written byShin Dong-chul, Nam Ji-woong
Based onThe Kid Deserves to Die
by Bang Jin-ho
Produced byNam Ji-woong, Mark W. Shaw
StarringJang Hyuk
CinematographyLee Yong-gab
Edited byKim Man-geun
Music byJung Hyun-soo
Production
company
Ascendio
Distributed byiHQ, M-line distribution, Wide Lens Pictures (North America), Digital Purchase
Release dates
  • April 23, 2022 (2022-04-23) (Far East Film Festival)
  • July 13, 2022 (2022-07-13) (South Korea)
  • July 13,  2022 (2022-07-13) (USA)
[1][2]
Running time
95 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean

The Killer, also known as The Killer: A Girl Who Deserves to Die (Korean: 더 킬러: 죽어도 되는 아이) is a 2022 South Korean action thriller film directed by Choi Jae-hoon, starring Jang Hyuk as the titular character. It is adapted from a popular novel The Kid Deserves to Die written by Bang Jin-ho.[3]

Plot

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Bang Ui-gang is a retired assassin who has settled down with his wife, Hyeon-soo. One day, Hyeon-soo tells Ui-gang that she is going on a holiday in Jeju together with her best friend, and requests that he take care of 17-year-old Kim Yoon-ji, the daughter of her best friend. Though reluctant at first, Ui-gang eventually gives in. After sending Hyeon-soo and Yoon-ji's stepmother off in the day, Ui-gang fetches Yoon-ji to Hongdae at night, and goes home after telling her to stay at her friend's house for a few days. Later at home, he gets awakened by Yoon-ji's call asking for help because her stomach hurts and immediately goes to find her, only to realise later that she faked being sick to get him to come pick her up. However, after Yoon-ji gets a text message, she tells Ui-gang to go home first.

Ui-gang heads home and drives away even though he looks back to see Yoon-ji riding away on a bike with several others. After receiving a text from his wife asking how Yoon-ji is doing, Ui-gang decides to turn back to find her, managing to track her eventual location through a tracking device, which he placed in her wallet earlier. Finding her being threatened by several delinquents, led by Sung-yeon, Ui-gang beats them up and brings Yoon-ji back home. The next night, Ui-gang and Yoon-ji are on the way back home, passing by the same place where he beat up the delinquents. He is stopped by Detective Lee Young-ho, who tells him that there is a murder case in the venue, and then lets him drive off.

The next morning, Detective Lee visits Ui-gang, suspecting him of being a part of the murder, and telling him about Yoon-ji's situation. Ui-gang understands her situation as he recalls a flashback which showed him and a teenage girl who wanted to kill herself. Sung-yeon calls Yoon-ji and Ui-gang intercepts the call, where he agrees to meet up, as Sung-yeon has the knife used in the murders, and that knife has Ui-gang's fingerprints. Though Sung-yeon tell Ui-gang to call her when he reaches a certain location, he is able to track her down because she has Yoon-ji's wallet (with the tracker still inside). Ui-gang escapes with the knife after fighting a Russian killer named Yuri, who is also trained in the Spetsnaz. He returns home, only to find Yoon-ji has been kidnapped.

Ui-gang tracks Sung-yeon to an apartment and mortally wounds her after seeking information from her about a human trafficking ring that also involves the Russian mafia, and about someone who has specifically requested Yoon-ji. He visits a hotel linked to the ring, kills numerous delinquents and escapes from Yuri, who earlier told him where Yoon-ji is. Detective Lee had arrived on the location to arrest Ui-gang, but Ui-gang overpowers him and drives with him to where he was told Yoon-ji was. After saving her, Ui-gang learns that Detective Lee is a corrupt police officer who worked for the organization Ui-gang has been attacking. Detective Lee learns that Yoon-ji was to be delivered to Park Hyung-joo. Ui-gang visits Park and learns that an unknown, high-ranking judge had specifically requested Yoon-ji. He also learns of an individual named Pig Mama who appears to be Park's boss.

Ui-gang asks Detective Lee to research both the judge and Yoon-ji. He learns Yoon-ji's mother is actually her stepmother, and also the identity of the judge. He proceeds to the judge's mansion, killing several bodyguards, but is betrayed by Detective Lee. Ui-gang is turned over to the judge, who is actually Judge Kim, next in line to become the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Korea. Judge Kim asks Detective Lee to kill Ui-gang, but the latter breaks free, killing Detective Lee and Yuri. Having killed all the bodyguards, Ui-gang kills Judge Kim after finding out that Pig Mama is Yoon-ji's stepmother, currently on holiday with Hyeon-soo. He heads to Jeju and kills Pig Mama in the outskirts. Together with Yoon-ji, Ui-gang finds Hyeon-soo at a beach in Jeju, where it is revealed that the teenage girl in Ui-gang's flashback was Hyeon-soo.

Cast

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  • Jang Hyuk as Bang Ui-gang, a retired professional killer
  • Lee Seo-young (Anne from GWSN) as Kim Yoon-ji, a high school girl[4]
  • Bruce Khan as Yuri, a Russian killer[5]
  • Bang Eun-jung as Sung-yeon, a girl involved in sex trafficking[6]
  • Shin Seung-hwan as Park Hyung-joo, a criminal gang member
  • Lee Seung-joon as Lee Young-ho, a detective
  • Lee Chae-young as Hyeon-soo, Bang Ui-gang's wife
  • Choi Ki-sub as Dotwok, a criminal gang member
  • Yoo Seo-jin as Yoon-ji's step-mother/Pig Mama
  • Hong Seo-joon as Judge Kim
  • Son Hyun-joo as a gun seller (cameo)[7]
  • Cha Tae-hyun as a trauma cleaner (cameo)[7]

Production

[edit]

Principal photography began on June 25, 2021 and filming wrapped up in October 2021.

Release

[edit]

The film made its world premiere at the 24th Udine Far East Film Festival on 23 April 2022.[8][9] It was pre-sold to 48 foreign countries and districts, including major countries in Europe and Asia.[10] It held a red carpet premiere at the historical Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles on 20 June 2022,[11] and was released in the theatres simultaneously in North America and South Korea on 13 July 2022.[12]

The film had a special screening at the 21st New York Asian Film Festival on 19 July 2022,[13] as well as the Fantasia International Film Festival on 2 Aug 2022.[14] It was also released in Singapore on 21 July, Taiwan on 22 July, Malaysia on 28 July, Vietnam on 5 August, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain on 11 August 2022 and Japan on 26 May 2023.

Awards and nominations

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Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref(s)
21st New York Asian Film Festival 19 July 2022 Daniel A. Craft Award for Excellence in Action Cinema Jang Hyuk Won [15]

References

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  1. ^ Jo Ji-young (June 2, 2022). "'액션神' 장혁, 액션 영화 '더 킬러: 죽어도 되는 아이'로 컴백" [Action God' Jang Hyuk, comeback with action movie 'The Killer: A Child Who Can Die] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on June 2, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2022 – via Naver.
  2. ^ "Jang Hyuk Stars in First Trailer for Korean Action-Thriller 'The Killer'". Collider. June 15, 2022. Archived from the original on June 15, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  3. ^ "장혁, '죽어도 되는 아이' 출연 확정…'검객' 감독과 재회". 18 June 2021. Archived from the original on 28 March 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  4. ^ Jeong Hee-yeon (June 10, 2022). "공원소녀 이서영, 스크린 데뷔 성공적 (더 킬러: 죽어도 되는 아이)" [GWSN Lee Seo-young, successful screen debut (The Killer: A Child Who Can Die)] (in Korean). Sports Donga. Archived from the original on June 10, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2022 – via Naver.
  5. ^ Jo Ji-young (July 4, 2022). "[SC현장] "배우이기 전 무술 사랑하는 무도인"…'더 킬러' 장혁, 액션에 쏟은 피땀눈물(종합)" [[SC on-site] “Before being an actor, a martial artist who loves martial arts”… 'The Killer' Jang Hyuk, blood sweat and tears in action (comprehensive)] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022 – via Naver.
  6. ^ Kim Da-eun (July 13, 2022). "더 킬러' 방은정, 강렬한 악역 성연으로 완벽 변신" [The Killer' Bang Eun-jung, perfect transformation into a strong villain Seong-yeon] (in Korean). Ilgan Sports. Archived from the original on July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022 – via Naver.
  7. ^ a b Ko Seung-ah (July 4, 2022). "더 킬러' 장혁 "차태현·손현주 특별출연…직접 섭외 전화" [N현장]" [The Killer' Jang Hyuk "Special appearances by Cha Tae-hyun and Son Hyeon-joo... Direct call for appointment" [N-Site]] (in Korean). News1. Archived from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved July 4, 2022 – via Naver.
  8. ^ "아센디오, 제작 영화 '더 킬러: 죽어도 되는 아이' 이탈리아 우디네 극동영화제 공식 초청". 28 March 2022. Archived from the original on 28 March 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  9. ^ "Far East Film Festival Calendar". Archived from the original on 2022-04-24. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  10. ^ "장혁 '더 킬러' 티저 포스터 공개…살기 어린 눈빛". 7 June 2022. Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  11. ^ "Jang Hyuk "The Killer" Los Angeles Premiere Red Carpet)". MSN. 21 June 2022. Archived from the original on 22 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  12. ^ "M-Line Distribution scores deals on 'The Killer' (exclusive)". 19 May 2022. Archived from the original on 19 May 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  13. ^ "NYAFF schedule". 19 Jul 2022. Archived from the original on 19 July 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  14. ^ "Fantasia Film Festival schedule". 19 Jul 2022. Archived from the original on 17 July 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  15. ^ Jo, Ji-young (July 8, 2022). "[공식] '더 킬러' 장혁, 뉴욕 아시안 영화제서 우수 액션 시네마상 수상" [[Official] 'The Killer' Jang Hyuk wins Best Action Cinema Award at New York Asian Film Festival] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on July 8, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2022 – via Naver.
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