Director: Yoon Jong Bin.

Starring: Gang Dong Won, Ha Jung Woo, Lee Kyoung Young, Lee Sung Min, Ma Dong Seok, Cho Jin Woong.

Running Time: 137 Minutes

Synopsis: A power struggle between the classes erupts as Kundo, a gang of righteous thieves, set about restoring balance to the people. Meanwhile an adopted son attempts to earn a place in his family as heir by performing sinister deeds.

“Rampant” may not be a word we see much in film titles, but it perfectly sums up this enjoyable mix of spaghetti western, martial arts, action film. Given the honour of being the London Korean Film Festival’s opening film, KUNDO: AGE OF THE RAMPANT comes across as a film looking to break into the mainstream by appealing to Hollywood tropes, yet has enough spice to add a very distinguished Korean taste.

Set during the Joseon dynasty, there’s a lot of plot to cram into the already lengthy 137 minutes, and at times the script struggles and feels very much like a novel being condensed. There are flashbacks, narrations, montages, and the film risks being crushed under its own weight. Luckily, Yoon Jong Bin adds a comedic edge to such moments with the use of sudden dramatic zooms, and sound effects usually reserved for the lampooning of westerns. There are quick edits and freeze frames, and yet the film never steps outside of its time period. Although the pacing and editing are indeed modern, the attention to detail when it comes to costumes and settings roots us firmly in a world of times gone by.

That complex story is a hard one to summarise, but it sees a good hearted yet desperate butcher, Dolmuchi (Ha), attempt to murder a young pregnant woman for money. Dolmuchi doesn’t go through with it, and is instead picked up by the thieves known as Kundo, who look about robbing the rich and giving to the poor. Together, they set about taking out the cruel nobleman Jo Yoon (Gang). The complexities come courtesy of the characters. Jo Yoon is a cruel and sadistic creature who takes great pleasure in the torture he puts others through, but he is not beyond his own feelings and compassion at times. He, like Dolmuchi, has turned his back on murder in the past, and Gang accesses a range of emotions to show this varied character. He’s just as fragile and naive as those he hurts.

Elsewhere we are joined by an exciting team of renegades, who each sport a different weapon/skill, and each have their own motives. Sometimes it’s all a bit too much, and the melodrama can strain the boundaries of acceptability when characters survive multiple stabs and what have you, all so that they may deliver a few cliched lines. They also add humour though, and that humour is in line with some of the best action films, Speaking of action, the fights are furious and brutal, but always quick and highly entertaining. One moment you’ll be laughing, while the next will see you cringe as a rock suddenly comes into play.

This will certainly please a lot of audiences with its relentless violence disguised with enjoyable physicality, while the cast mould a succession of interesting characters. The score, by the ever brilliant Cho Young Wuk, relishes in the opportunity to highlight the western influences, and fans of the genre will be happy to see some nods to Sam Peckinpah slowmotion, Sergio Leone brutality, and those Morricone sounds. This is fusion food with a bold taste, and although it may lack subtlety or subtext, the plot will certainly relate to all those living in this economic climate. The director himself wanted this to be a film where you feel rather than think, and the adrenaline that gets pumping at times suggests he’s done a bang up job.

[usr=3]KUNDO: THE AGE OF THE RAMPANT screens again on Friday 7th November at 18:30 at Odeon Kingston.

Follow our LKFF 2014 Coverage HERE!