Ryoo Seung-wan's sequel to his 2015 action comedy Veteran is a high-octane crime thriller that sees him reunite with Hwang Jung-min and a stellar supporting cast to a predictably satisfying effect.
The film is focused on a team of old-school cops who, more often than not, employ violent techniques during their job. But they get results and they're trusted by their superiors. Hwang replays his role as Do-cheol, arguably the most skilled of all in the group. He's much like Ma Dong-seok's character from The Roundup series, just a simple guy who knows his job and has his own ways of doing it, but isn't afraid to have some fun now and then. The team's abilities are tested once a vigilante serial killer makes himself known to the public, and is, annoyingly, constantly being called upon by some pesky live-streamers.
Ryoo again directs the film with plenty of energy and stylistic verve, definitely stepping his game up after the middling Smugglers. It feels like he's most assured when directing muscular action thrillers like this one, peppering the proceedings with humor but not against darkening the tone if need be. And so it is the case here; I, the Executioner harkens back to The Unjust in the way it questions morality and tests a desperate policeman's sense of judgment. The plot sets up an intriguing examination of vigilantism and how it can be perceived as just in the public eye, but trusts the viewer to know better than that. And we, hopefully, do.
To offset all the murder are previously mentioned instances of humor that are welcome to lighten up the mood, and they fit quite well. Also, much like in The Roundup series, there are plenty of great chases and visceral action scenes, culminating in a climactic sequence of fist pumping satisfaction that feels well earned.
Very much recommended for fans of crime thrillers.
