Assassination (2015): Large-scale action in 1930s Korea
2015 • Choi Dong-hoon • 2.39:1 • Jump to Gallery ↓
Directed by Choi Dong-hoon, Assassination is set during the Japanese occupation of Korea in the 1930s. The film follows a group of resistance fighters who are tasked with assassinating key collaborators of the colonial regime. The mission becomes increasingly complex due to betrayal, mistaken identity, and conflicting agendas, particularly concerning a contract killer and a twin sister.
The film blends historical drama with large-scale action spectacle. Significant attention has been given to recreating the 1930s through meticulous production design, including costumes, vehicles, and weaponry that are accurate to the period, as well as urban environments that blend Korean and colonial architectural influences.
Action sequences are shot clearly, often using wide shots to establish the geography of a scene before transitioning to more dynamic movement. This approach ensures that even complex, large-scale confrontations remain visually legible. Like many contemporary South Korean blockbusters, Assassination combines historical subject matter with polished action filmmaking and star power, featuring performers such as Jun Ji-hyun, Lee Jung-jae, and Ha Jung-woo.
Technical Specs:
- The Story: In 1933, during Japan’s occupation of Korea, a sniper and a team of resistance fighters are tasked with assassinating a high-ranking Japanese officer and a Korean collaborator, while a contract killer is hired to stop them. Read my review of Assassination.
- Actors: Jun Ji-hyun, Lee Jung-jae, Ha Jung-woo, Oh Dal-su, Cho Jin-woong, Lee Kyung-young, Choi Deok-moon..
- Director: Choi Dong-hoon
- Year: 2015
- Cinematographer: Kim Woo-hyung
- Origin: Korean Cinema
- Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
- Genre: Action & Adventure / Historical Drama
