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No Other Choice (2025)


No Other Choice (2025) is directed by Park Chan-wook, the filmmaker behind Oldboy and Snowpiercer. His signature style is all over this film, with moments of completely bizarre dialogue and acting choices that feel intentional rather than accidental. While it doesn’t reach the heights of his most celebrated work, it’s still unmistakably his, strange, uncomfortable, and darkly humorous. I still need to see The Handmaiden, which many consider his best film, and this only reinforced that curiosity.

Lee Byung-hun, who many Western audiences may remember from G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and KPop Demon Hunters, plays the lead role as a desperate father trying to secure a job. His character’s decision to literally eliminate the competition is where the film fully leans into its absurdity. I barely recognized him at first, which speaks to how fully he disappears into the role. His performance walks a fine line between grounded desperation and unhinged logic.

Son Ye-jin, known for The Classic and A Moment to Remember, is excellent as the expecting wife. She brings warmth and emotional stability to an otherwise unbalanced world, grounding the film whenever it threatens to spiral too far into chaos. She’s also undeniably easy on the eyes, which only adds to her screen presence.

Yeom Hye-ran, recognized for The Glory and When the Camellia Blooms, delivers some standout moments, especially in one particular scene I won’t spoil. Her performance is unexpected, sharp, and unforgettable, contributing heavily to the film’s bonkers reputation.

The movie is strange, memorable, and uneven in a way that somehow works. It may not be for everyone, but it sticks with you long after it ends. Result: B+

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