Bloody Tie

Bloody Tie grabbed me from the first scene and didn’t let go. It’s a dark Korean crime film set in the dirty streets of Busan, where cops and criminals are barely different. The story follows two men on opposite sides of the law who realize they need each other to survive. It’s messy, violent, and surprisingly human.

Sang-do is a smooth-talking drug dealer who treats selling meth like a business. He never touches his own product and thinks of himself as a professional. Detective Doh is the opposite. He’s a broken cop whose partner was murdered by a drug lord named Jangchul. Doh wants revenge, but he’s lost himself along the way. He drinks too much, beats people up, and takes bribes without guilt. Neither of them is a good guy, and that’s what makes the movie work.

At first, Doh forces Sang-do to snitch on other dealers. He uses him as a tool to get back into the game. But after a botched operation lands Sang-do in prison and gets Doh suspended, they both realize they have a common enemy. Jangchul is back in town, and both men want him gone. So they form a shaky partnership. Doh wants justice, Sang-do wants his power back. They use each other, but you can feel something real build between them.

What I loved most is how the film never pretends either of them is a hero. Doh wears a badge but acts like a thug. Sang-do is a criminal but feels oddly likable and loyal in his own twisted way. The acting from Ryoo Seung-beom and Hwang Jeong-min is excellent. They make these flawed characters feel completely real. Their push and pull kept me hooked the whole time.

Director Choi Ho gives the movie a gritty, stylish look. Harsh lighting, smoky rooms, fast cuts, and 1970s-style music make it feel like an old-school crime thriller. The violence hits hard and sudden. Every scene feels sweaty and raw. My only complaint is the side plot with Sang-do’s girlfriend, which drags a bit. But the main story stays tight and tense.

By the end, Bloody Tie feels like a gut punch. It’s violent, darkly funny, and emotional in ways I didn’t expect. It’s not about good guys winning. It’s about two damaged men trying to find meaning in a rotten world. For me, that’s what makes it more than just another cop-and-criminal movie. It’s rough, real, and unforgettable.