At one point in Kill Boksoon, Gil Boksoon (Jeon Do-yeon), a ruthless female assassin, says killing people comes easier to her than raising a kid. Boksoon, who struggles to remedy her relationship with teenage daughter Jae-Young (Kim Si-a), is a sought-after hitwoman. This fascinating film strikes gold when it successfully balances showcasing two different worlds of Boksoon.
Director: Byun Sung-hyun
Cast: Jeon Do-yeon, Sol Kyung-gu, Kim Si-a
Rating: 2.5
An assassin by night, Boksoon pretends to her daughter and everyone else that she is an employee at an event management company. Though she revels in the glory of being the best in the killing business, her challenge is spending more time with her daughter and making more of that relationship. This conundrum puts her in a do-or-die situation that makes her contemplate the renewal of her contract with the assassin-for-hire company, MK Enterprise.
The soul of this action thriller lies in its exploration of teen identity crisis and the importance of family. In this film that captures grisly murders, the particularly tense, affecting moments are when Boksoon and Jae-young grapple with and open up to each other. These are the moments that redeem the film. It is refreshing to see the mother gracefully learning new perspectives of life from her daughter. The seamless strengthening of their bond and how it’s presented in the film offers needed respite from the tedious conversations unfolding at the agency.
Jeon Do-yeon exudes effortless charm even in the action set pieces, that are focused on elevating her characters. Every new action sequence is treated differently, with a keen eye on music, style, visual language, and setting. While the film takes its time to familiarise the audience with the machinations of such assassins-for-hire agencies, perhaps the film could have avoided the excessive plot diversions and expositions.
The film contains the potential to be the perfect blend of action and drama, and an unusual dramatisation of the work-life balance of… an assassin. And yet, you are left with the feeling that all the potential isn’t exactly fulfilled. The action set-pieces aren’t exactly a great strength, despite the film’s attempt to present them differently. Nonetheless, if you are looking for a laid-back weekend watch with a bit of action thrown in, you can’t really go wrong with this one.
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