No Mercy For The Rude Special Limited Edition DVD Region 3

The plot revolves around the oddly, yet aptly named Killa (Shin Ha Kyun, also in the excellent Save the Green Planet!), a hitman whose tongue is too short, a disability which has left him too embarrassed to speak and led him to knock off targets with a knife to the heart to save up money for an operation. Deciding only to kill the titular rude of society, i.e. those who deserve it, Killa gradually draws closer to his goal, though he finds his relatively peaceful existence shattered by his involvement with bar girl She (Yoon Ji Hye) and a young boy who falls into his care by default. After a botched killing sees him hunted by vicious gangsters and the police sniffing around his trail, he desperately tries to keep his eyes on the prize as his life spirals violently out of control.

From the start, the film recalls Park Chan Wook's Old Boy, with director Park showing the same eye for quirky details and using a similar voice-over style. However, although the two films are likely to be compared, and certainly share the nihilistic tone, No Mercy for the Rude is less of a cinematic puzzle, and more of an eccentric character study. It is if anything even more cynical in its view of the world. As well as exposing hypocrisy in a variety of forms, with all of Killa's victims being outwardly respectable but morally monstrous, Park also explores issues of self image and self worth in interesting fashion through the ways in which the various assassins see themselves and justify their actions. This adds a welcome layer of depth, and the viewer warms to Killa as Park gradually fleshes him out beyond the expected ironic quips of his narration with aspects which seem initially like gimmicks, such as seeing himself variously as a bullfighter, swordsman and surgeon, but quickly take on a more telling, and indeed tragic air. As such, although the narrative itself is relatively predictable, with a happy or conventional ending never really being on the cards, the film works well as an unconventional character study, and effectively transcends the expectations of the genre.

In addition to being filled with bloody violence and surprisingly explicit sex, No Mercy for the Rude is actually very funny, with Park managing to achieve a perfect balance of dark humour. Much of this is drawn from a great sense of the absurd, especially in terms of the bizarre yet cosy domestic situation which Killa is forced into and in the eccentric personalities which populate the film, such as his ballet dancing best friend who uses his skills to turn his killings into graceful works of art. Thankfully, as with Killa himself, all of the characters are well written, and all act as far more than wacky stereotypes included for off-kilter effect, with each being given their own sad backstory and motivation. This helps to further provide an effective emotional core, making the film poignant in a way which gradually creeps up on the viewer and almost belies its brash, coolly amoral exterior.

Whilst Park's direction is impressive, controlled and fast moving, it is arguably this melancholy and vaguely poetic heart which is the film's greatest strength and elevates it from being yet another flashy attempt to replicate the success of Old Boy. Providing both style and substance, it engages on many levels, and emerges as one of the best Korean films of the last few years. If unlikely to achieve the same international acclaim or high profile of Park Chan Wook's classic, it at least deserves to find its niche with fans.

by James Mudge - BeyondHollywood.com