Next up is Beterang (2015)
Rookie detective Park Sun Woo and Seo Do-Cheol, a veteran of the violent crime investigation team, chase a serial killer who turns their world upside down. Ryoo Seung-wan’s sequel to his 2015 action comedy Veteran is a high-octane crime thriller that reunites him with Hwang Jung-min and a stellar supporting cast to predictably satisfying effect. The film centers on a team of old-school cops who, more often than not, employ violent techniques in their line of work.
But they get results and their superiors trust them
Hwang reprises his role as Do-cheol, arguably the most skilled of the bunch. He’s very similar to Ma Dong-seok’s character from the series The Roundup, just a simple guy who knows his job and has his ways of doing it, but isn’t afraid to have a little fun. then.
Ryoo once again directs the film with a lot of energy and stylistic verve, certainly upping the ante after the mediocre Smugglers
The team’s skills are put to the test when a vigilante serial killer makes himself known to the public and, annoyingly, is constantly called out by some annoying live streamers. He seems to be at his most confident when directing vigorous action thrillers like this, peppering it all with humor but not shying away from darkening the tone when necessary. And that’s no different here; Hangman recalls The Unjust in the way it questions morality and tests a desperate cop’s sense of judgment.
And let’s hope it does
The plot presents an intriguing look at the vigilante and how he can only be perceived as a public phenomenon, but trusts the viewer to know better. To make up for all the killing, there are some previously mentioned bits of humor that are welcome to lighten the mood and fit very well. Also, as in the Roundup series, there are plenty of spectacular chases and visceral action scenes, culminating in a satisfying fist-pumping climactic sequence that feels well-earned.