The martial art movie genre have not been very attractive in 2019 with nothing truly exiting hitting the viewers. Now Netflix presents this hidden gem that is being called by some critics as one of the best action films of the year. South Korean movie industry is not known for purely martial art based themes but being the first lead role of veteran martial artist and fight choreographer Bruce Khan, Revenger presents some stunning fight choreography that definitely leaves a mark.

The premise is simple enough to open up the stage for confrontation right from the opening scene. Kim Yul, an Interpol Officer is sent to an island prison that is shared by Asian countries for isolating the worst prisoners. The catch is that Kim is after the kingpin, Carlos Kun, who murdered his family. The island is governed by Kun and his men and Kim starts by saving a mother and daughter duo from a bunch of goons. Kim lands up with the duo and their small group who are threatened by the bad guys. The threadbare plot does not offer much chance for any drama nor does it have any surprises to offer. The setting is different from the usual slick black suited elegance that is generally found in South Korean thrillers, but for a raw martial arts film, it works well enough.  There are some attempts at comedy, some of which is funny and others cringe worthy.

The initial script of the film was written by Bruce Khan. But due to various constraints including financial ones, some of the ambitious and more violent segments had to be removed from the final script. But when we are sitting up for an action thriller, it is the fight sequences that count and Revenger delivers those with full gusto. From the first sequence on the beach to the final fight in an abandoned building, each fight is well choreographed and delivers the right level of bone-jarring impact.

Director Lee Seung-won uses the capabilities of Bruce Khan, who plays Kim Yul, very effectively and the camera-work is praiseworthy as it captures the fun and excitement of Khan’s moves with precision. Notably, the film keeps itself free from any type of wire-works and that makes it even more enjoyable. The first few fight scenes are good enough to make you eagerly wait for the next ones and when they come, they come with full fury.

This is the first time Bruce Khan leads a movie and his experience as a skilled martial artist is apparent in every movement. He does not have a wiry frame but he is lightning fast and disposes room full of bad guys with aplomb. Khan has said that he specializes on using kicks in his martial arts moves and each of his kicks brings in the right blend of power and poise. He has only a few lines in the film and maintains a sombre disposition but when his kicks hit, we know that the one on the receiving end is going down. He uses a combination of styles that not only visually stimulating but also brings a refreshing touch in the choreography. There is also an excellent sword fight where he displays his weapon skills effectively against two opponents. The final confrontation is also praise worthy, moving from free hand combat to weapons and back to free hand.

Khan has said in a recent interview that he was debilitated by a ruptured disc in his back at the start of the shooting and as he performed without rest, his back worsened with time. He had to take four pain killers at a time be able to complete the shooting of the painstakingly detailed final fight scene. No matter how much pain he endured, to his credit none of it shows in the movie and his moves never look slow or restricted in any way.

So if you are looking for some exciting action on a lazy afternoon, Revenger is definitely a good choice. With Khan’s potential, the movie could have been even better and what it lacks is an equally skilled worthy opponent for Khan. I am already thinking about how much fun a combination of Scott Adkins and Bruce Khan, in the hands of good director, will be for martial art movie fans. The good news is, Khan is already planning his next venture and he has promised that though his original vision was not fulfilled in Revenger, the next movie is definitely going to be even better. I, for one, will surely be waiting for that.

Revenger is available for streaming in Netflix.

By Suvajit Banerjee

© teleratz 2019