©Courtesy of Neon
While they’re so many film makers who have had careers filled with good films for prolonged periods, it’s still a rarity to create their best works of art further into their careers. Known for some of the early aughts most inventive and brilliant films, Park Chan-wook might have just dropped his masterpiece 33 years into his career.
Based on the Donald Westlake book, The Ax, No Other Choice follows Man-so, a 25 year veteran of the paper industry who finds himself out in the job market at the least expected moment. With the job hunt leading nowhere, Man-so finds himself on another type of hunt as he plans to take out his competition for upcoming jobs in the work of paper manufacturing.
Park Chan-wook might have made instant classics like Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy, Thirst, The Handmaiden; just to name a few. But it is hard to look at No Other Choice and understand that he has outdone himself and released not just another instant classic, but one that might end up as the film to define his career.
Directed by : Park Chan-wook
Screenplay by : Park Chan-wook
Don McKellar
Lee Kyoung-mi
Lee Ja-hye
Based on The Ax : by Donald Westlake
Starring : Lee Byung-hun
Son Ye-jin
Park Hee-soon
Lee Sung-min
Yeom Hye-ran
Cha Seung-won
Cinematography : Kim Woo-hyung
Distributed by : CJ Entertainment
Release dates : September 24, 2025 (South Korea)
Running Time : 139 minutes
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Here’s the trailer of the film.