Director: Kim Seong Hun.
Starring: Lee Sun Kyun, Cho Jin Woong.
Running Time: 111 Minutes
Synopsis: Detective Ko (Lee) is having one of the worst days of his life. While his mother’s funeral takes place his office is raided by Internal Affairs. On top of that, his car hits a pedestrian and Ko sees no other option but to hide the body…in his own mother’s coffin. Unfortunately Ko has been seen, and soon begins an epic tale of cat and mouse.
A HARD DAY is only the second feature from Kim Seong Hun, and given how awesome it is you’ll probably be asking yourself “WHY?” When we talk of non-stop roller coasters, this is exactly what we mean. There is no introduction and no pussy footing around. Ko is up to his neck before the film begins and things just get worse and worse. Funnily enough, films that often fail to take a breather just come off as so relentless that there’s no time to appreciate what is going on, but A HARD DAY is completely opposite. The film builds upon its dark comedic roots and intensity so well, instead of following a trajectory of constant punishment, we are gradually taken to the next level.
The film has characters that lack morals, or at least the morals we would consider acceptable. Almost every action goes against what our clear-headed minds are thinking, but these characters are far from clear-headed. Ko (Lee) makes a mistake that he believes he can away with, but as other mistakes catch up with him, he weaves a web of deceit around himself. Thankfully Kim’s script leaves little to coincidence and dumb luck, and although things get messy, Ko still proves himself to be a quick thinker with some intelligent, admittedly “out there” ideas. He certainly comes up with brilliant ways to transport bodies and cover his tracks, at least from an entertainment perspective.
This is all part of the fun of watching A HARD DAY, which is every bit a comedy as it is a thriller. The laughs are dark and comedic, and the characters get exactly what is coming to them. Seeing them squirm in awkward situations is a particular highlight and the dramatic irony throughout gives us a feeling of power. As the tension mounts, you’ll be unsure as to if it’s your nails digging into your palms or those of Ko.
When not squeezing out the laughs, Kim creates a brutal action thriller, but one that never gets exploitative in its levels of violence. When things do go from a battle of wits to physical, it’s all a bit scrappy and silly, but no less painful. Every punch or head hitting a blunt object can be felt due to excellent sound design and a pounding score. Each of these elements is carefully placed and never overused either.
[usr=4] A HARD DAY is sold out at its next screening, but will also be screening at the London Korean Film Festival in November, as well as receiving a wider release soon through StudioCanal. Stay tuned for our exclusive interview with director Kim Seong Hun.
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