The latest film from South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook (Oldboy, Lady Vengeance, The Sympathizer) blends elements of satire, black comedy, and noir in a story inspired by crime writer Donald Westlake’s novel The Ax.
Man-su has devoted his life to the paper company where he works, and he has reaped the benefits: winning awards, owning a happy home with a lovely wife, and enjoying the luxurious fruits of his labors. Things take a bad turn, however, when a US firm buys-out the paper company with Man-su becoming a victim of mass layoffs among the staff. All of a sudden, Man-su finds himself in the unenviable position of having to look for a job that will allow him and his family to maintain their current quality of life. As his troubles mount, Man-su’s adherence to sense of morality begins to slip as his downward spiral intensifies.




139 