This photo provided by Plus M Entertainment shows actor Jeon Do-yeon as Ha Soo-young in the new Korean film “Revolver.” (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Aug. 2 (Korea Bizwire) – Contrary to what its title suggests, “Revolver” is not an action-packed film. Instead, it is a chase drama focusing on a woman’s relentless pursuit of money owed to her, with insufficient thriller elements.
Jeon Do-yeon stars as Ha Soo-young, a former police officer just released from prison after being caught up in an unexpected corruption scandal two years earlier.
Accepting a deal from her then superior and lover Chief Lim (Lee Jung-jae) and Andy (Ji Chang-wook), a big shot in an investment company, she took the fall in exchange for a promised big fortune.
However, upon her release, she discovers that Chief Lim has died and her promised reward vanished. Instead, she encounters Jung Yoon-sun (Lim Ji-yeon), an unfamiliar bar hostess, and learns that the new apartment promised to her as part of the reward is now in possession of a stranger.
Sensing betrayal, Soo-young sets out to find Andy, uncovering greater and more dangerous forces along the way.
The film marks Jeon’s second collaboration with director Oh Seung-uk of the crime romance “The Shameless” (2015).
Jeon delivers a powerful performance as a woman driven by an obsession with her unpaid dues in the new film. Her portrayal is calm, cold and dry, yet charged with intense energy, capturing the desperation of someone with nothing left to lose. Her physical commitment to the role is equally impressive.
Despite Jeon’s compelling performance, “Revolver” falters in its execution. The film overly fixates on Soo-young, seemingly relying too heavily on Jeon’s star power.
The complex web of characters and backgrounds surrounding her is inadequately explored, leaving the narratives of supporting characters underdeveloped and their relationships haphazardly addressed. This results in a scattered impression and a monotonous storyline.
As Soo-young chases Andy, the film continues to introduce new characters without providing enough engaging incidents to sustain audience interest.
The dense dialogue can be difficult to follow, potentially confusing viewers who miss key details. The film maintains a tranquil tone for much of its runtime, which may feel tedious for some before the action finally picks up toward the end.
“Revolver” opens in theaters Aug. 7.
(Yonhap)
