It’s so dramatic, even the tiger’s out there, looking at the distance, contemplating the hunter.
What it's about
Japanese-occupied Mount Jirisan, 1925. The last remaining one-eyed Korean tiger, dubbed by the locals as the Mountain Lord, eludes capture from the Japanese governor-general, who has been aiming to hunt them down to the point of extinction. Because of this, they try to recruit revered hunter Chun Man-duk, who swore off hunting after a tragic accident.
The take
For a while, tigers roamed Korea, garnering fear and respect, as the clawed creature resembled the peninsula. However, tigers roam no more due to Japanese occupation in the early 20th century. The Tiger: An Old Hunter’s Tale takes these historical facts to create a thrilling adventure drama– where man versus the titular beast are compelled to meet again due to political pressure, the government bounty, and personal revenge on both parties. The CGI is occasionally spotty, and the relationship between father and son isn’t as developed as the one between hunter and tiger, but the face-off between the opponents and their shared history makes The Tiger a good movie to watch.
What stands out
The aforementioned tiger. Writer-director Park Hoon-jung holds off the beast’s appearance until halfway through the film, to build up a sense of mythic proportions around the tiger (as well as the hunter) respectively. When it finally appears, the CGI team really pulled off the creature itself, the teeth, and the gore.
Comments
Add a comment
Your name
Your comment
UP NEXT
UP NEXT
UP NEXT
More like this in
Zatoichi: Darkness Is His Ally (1989)
The blind swordsman makes his last stand in this action-packed, nostalgic conclusion
7.0
The Shadow Strays (2024)
Timo Tjahjanto’s second Netflix collab takes a darker path in this bloody and brutal crime thriller
7.1
Bad Lands (2023)
A subtle Japanese crime thriller that coolly pulls off its long con
6.5
Night on the Galactic Railroad (1985)
Two cats take a train to the stars in the surreal rendition of the beloved children’s novel
7.3
Rohan at the Louvre (2023)
A riveting supernatural mystery contemplating Japanese art in relation to the world
7.1
Lust, Caution (2007)
A wartime spy falls for a collaborator in this erotic espionage drama
7.3
Why Don’t You Play in Hell? (2013)
A ragtag crew makes the film of their dreams with a former child star and the yakuza in this ode to old-school gritty action films
7.2
Ballerina (2023)
A gruesome yet restrained Korean revenge thriller that rains vengeance on sexual predators
7.8
Badland Hunters (2024)
Don Lee punches through a dystopian world in this thrilling action spin-off
6.8
Shin Kamen Rider (2023)
A bizarre superhero adaptation of the classic 70s tokusatsu series that goes absolutely bonkers