This scene from Oldboy film – look at it carefully and guess: who are these two characters? The one in black clothes and the one in red – what’s their relationship? If I reveal it, even our cultural censor boards would explode.
Oldboy – a film every Korean knows by heart, and even for us here, whenever someone starts with Korean films, this is usually their first stop. After watching, people’s minds get blown. Many say it’s “too dark.” So today, let’s find out – is it really that dark?
The opening scene may or may not make sense immediately, but it surely grabs your attention. Since this is a revenge–suspense thriller, hooking you from the very first Scene. Within just 5 minutes, revenge kicks off: the main character is abducted and locked inside a single room… for 15 years.
The montage of his daily life is shown – surprisingly similar to ours: lying around, doing nothing, eating the same food again and again. He even finds ways to keep himself busy. Imagine – free food, shelter, entertainment – but still, he complains.
For the first 15–17 minutes, nothing outside the room is shown. The character only knows the world through television. And then suddenly, one day, without warning, he is released. Now, his only mission is to find who destroyed his life for 15 years – and why.
So far, the film doesn’t feel that dark. But once Mi-do appears, the darkness truly begins. Director Park Chan-wook – Korea’s top filmmaker – made this film so powerful that when it screened at Cannes, many people walked out midway, unable to handle it. But one person sat till the end and loved it: Quentin Tarantino. He even pushed for the film to win the Palme d’Or.
The film’s insane energy comes from its visual style – gritty, unpolished, uneasy. Every frame makes you feel something is wrong. Compare it with Spike Lee‘s American remake – smoother visuals, but it looks like a TV soap in comparison.
Another unique element is its music. Brutal violence paired with beautiful symphonies – creating an unsettling but unforgettable experience. It’s like sitting in a bus heading toward a beautiful place, but packed so uncomfortably tight that you feel something crawling behind you.
Then comes the violence. Unlike Hollywood, here there are no guns. Ordinary objects – especially a hammer – become weapons. This led to the legendary hallway fight scene, shot continuously over 3 days with 17 takes. No CGI, no shortcuts – just raw physical pain. The scene was so influential that shows like Daredevil and many others copied it.
But all of this still isn’t what makes Oldboy truly dark. The real darkness lies in the twist ending. The reveal shocks you to your core – one of cinema’s greatest plot twists. It shakes your mind, makes your stomach turn, and leaves you horrified.
Yet, beyond the shock, what makes Oldboy unforgettable is its philosophy of revenge. There’s no clear hero or villain – both suffer, both inflict suffering. The villain’s entire life revolves around revenge, and once he achieves it, nothing is left. The hero not only endures physical torture, but also a permanent mental prison created by memory itself.
That is Oldboy’s ultimate tragedy: being trapped not just in a room, but inside your own haunted memories.
📌 For Full Reviews & More Action Picks, Visit My Channel Here