Oldboy -2003- ((top)) Jun 2026

Review, Summary, Analysis: Oldboy (2003) - Ashley Hajimirsadeghi

The film's editing, handled by Kim Sang-bum and Park Il-sung, is also noteworthy, as it seamlessly weaves together the non-linear narrative, creating a sense of disorientation and confusion that mirrors Oh Dae-Su's own disorientation. Oldboy -2003-

For , Dae-su is fed only fried dumplings, drugged with gas to keep him docile, and forced to watch the news. Through a television screen, he learns that his wife has been brutally murdered and that he is the prime suspect. To maintain his sanity, he shadowboxes against the walls, maps out his revenge, and self-documents his descent into madness. To maintain his sanity, he shadowboxes against the

, a dark comedy that continues his exploration of morality and desperation. psychological motivations behind the villain’s plan, or perhaps a list of other Korean thrillers that share its intense atmosphere? This legendary sequence sees a weary Dae-su fight

This legendary sequence sees a weary Dae-su fight his way through dozens of thugs armed only with a hammer in a three-minute, unbroken tracking shot. It is a masterclass in action filmmaking. At a time when action cinema was dominated by rapid-fire editing and shaky-cam techniques that obscured the action, Park Chan-wook did the exact opposite. He keeps the camera at a distance, side-scrolling like a video game, forcing the audience to witness every brutal second of the fight. We see Dae-su’s exhaustion, his clumsy swings, his hammer getting stuck in a man’s back, and the thugs pulling him down by his shirt.