Oldboy

I watched Oldboy and it completely destroyed me in the best way. The story follows Oh Dae-su, an ordinary guy who gets kidnapped and locked in a tiny room for fifteen years with no explanation. Then suddenly he’s released, and the rest of the film becomes this dark, brutal hunt for answers. Director Park Chan-wook doesn’t waste a single second. From the opening scenes, I was completely hooked.

The filmmaking is stunning. Park Chan-wook uses bold colors, creative camera angles, and shadows that reflect Dae-su’s broken mind. The famous hallway fight scene is unforgettable. It’s one long take of Dae-su fighting off a gang with just a hammer. It’s raw, exhausting, and strangely beautiful. That scene alone shows you what kind of movie this is.

Choi Min-sik’s performance as Dae-su is incredible. You feel every ounce of his pain, rage, and confusion. He switches between madness and deep sorrow so naturally that I forgot I was watching acting. Kang Hye-jung brings warmth as Mi-do, while Yoo Ji-tae is terrifyingly calm as the villain. Every actor makes their scenes feel heavy and real.

The music by Cho Young-wuk adds another layer of emotion. “The Last Waltz” plays during key moments and it’s both sad and haunting. Even in the most violent scenes, there’s this strange beauty because of how the visuals, music, and silence blend together. It creates a mood that sticks with you long after.

The final twist hit me like a truck. It’s not just shocking, it makes you rethink everything you just watched. The film shows how revenge destroys everyone involved, not just the target. After the credits rolled, I just sat there in silence trying to process what I’d seen

Oldboy is violent, disturbing, and deeply emotional, but it’s also a masterpiece. It’s one of those films that proves cinema can be both painful and absolutely unforgettable.