An aging assassin is tasked with mentoring a reckless rookie, despite her objections. To make things worse, someone wants her dead. Retirement is no longer an issue… Survival is.
When I initially saw the title The Old Woman With The Knife from Well Go USA, I assumed I would be sitting down for a horror film. To my pleasant surprise, I was greeted with one of the best crime thrillers out of South Korea that I’ve seen since Oldboy. This is one of the perks of refusing to watch the trailers before sitting down for a film I intend to review. I go in blind, with zero expectations.
Director Kyu-dong Min, known most for Memento Mori, tells the story of Hornclaw, an assassin who’s entering her golden years. She’s denying the inevitable, and requesting more missions from her employer. She’s tasked with training an upcoming assassin code-named “Bullfight”. Hornclaw specializes in blades and close quarter weapons that allow her to close in on a target and slip away before they even realize they’re dying. Bullfight would much rather take on a whole room of men head on, or weaponize a forklift. Her subtle approach, and personal touch, are starting to affect her as she ages. Occasionally stalling to kill someone she’s begun to relate to, where Bullfight would simply kill them before wandering off to eat lunch.
As if trying to reel in a problematic new recruit wasn’t enough for an assassin past her prime, Hornclaw finds herself as someone’s target. Now she has to navigate her missions, bring nuance to an impatient trainee, and keep an eye on her surroundings, all while coming to terms with her own mortality. Hyeyeong Lee brings heart and soul to her role as Hornclaw, delivering a heartfelt and pulse pounding performance as a seasoned killer with a growing sense of empathy. She’ll impress you with her physical capabilities while making you feel growing compassion for the situation she finds herself in. I initially expected her to fall into a “John Wick” archetype, but thanks to the same efforts she put into such films as In Front of Your Face and Sudden Change, Hyeyeong Lee makes Hornclaw an iconic assassin all her own.
Kim Sung-Cheol brings beautifully chaotic energy to the screen which serves as a contrast to Hornclaw’s quiet nature. His character, Bullfight, showcases Kim’s acting range. It’s a far more vengeful and spiteful character than any of his other roles from such films as The Night Owl or Troll Factory. Netflix aficionados may recognize him from the fantasy horror series, Hellbound. Joining the roster of on screen talent is Kim Mu-yeol, whose presence only made me think of John Wick again thanks to his role as Chief Jo from 2023’s Ballerina. He plays Ryu, Hornclaw’s boss and mentor who sees their work as extermination… Claiming they’re simply ridding the world of pests. His cold approach and stern nature makes him the closest thing to authority the group of assassins have.
The Old Woman With The Knife is an on screen adaptation of Gu Byeong-mo’s book, Bruised Fruit. The film utilized the name given to the English translation of her novel, which received praise from The New York Times. She’s given a writer’s credit on the film alongside Kim Dong-wan and director Kyu-dong Min. This was Kim’s first writer’s credit as well as his first film credit, whereas Kyu-dong has an extensive history that includes the aforementioned Memento Mori, The Treacherous, and the South Korean horror anthology trilogy… Horror Stories. The combined efforts delivered a film that’s tense, action packed, and heartfelt.
The movie’s two hours give it the time necessary to set the stage, build tension, and reward the audience for going on the journey from beginning to end. While a scene or two may feel a bit slow, at no point was I hoping for the story to end. Whether it’s watching Hornclaw slay a misogynist on a subway car, or seeing Bullfight slowly come undone due to rising tensions, the viewer is sure to be glued to the story the entire way through. You may find yourself feeling the same as I did by the time the credits roll. I was clamoring for more. While I wait to see if The Old Woman With The Knife gets a prequel or follow-up, I’ll be tracking down the book to squeeze just a little more juice out of this fantastic narrative.
The Old Woman With The Knife gets an unrated release on DVD and Blu-ray on November 21st.
