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IMDbPro

The Villainess

Original title: Aknyeo
  • 20172017
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 2h 4m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
15K
YOUR RATING
The Villainess (2017)
Sook-hee (KIM Ok-vin) was brought up to become a deadly assassin. She gets a second chance in life when South Korea's Intelligence Agency recruits her to become a sleeper cell. Her new identity is a theater actress and comes with a promise of complete freedom after serving the country for 10 years. But living a normal life is no easy task, and when two men suddenly appear in her life, she uncovers secrets of her past.
Play trailer1:59
1 Video
58 Photos
ActionCrimeDrama
A female assassin leaves a trail of bodies behind her as she seeks revenge.A female assassin leaves a trail of bodies behind her as she seeks revenge.A female assassin leaves a trail of bodies behind her as she seeks revenge.
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
15K
YOUR RATING
    • Byung-gil Jung
    • Byeong-sik Jung
    • Byung-gil Jung
  • Stars
    • Kim Ok-bin
    • Shin Ha-kyun
    • Sung Jun
    • Byung-gil Jung
    • Byeong-sik Jung
    • Byung-gil Jung
  • Stars
    • Kim Ok-bin
    • Shin Ha-kyun
    • Sung Jun
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 107User reviews
    • 144Critic reviews
    • 64Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:59
    Watch Trailer

    Photos58

    The Villainess (2017)
    The Villainess (2017)
    The Villainess (2017)
    Shin Ha-kyun in The Villainess (2017)
    Kim Ok-bin in The Villainess (2017)
    Kim Seo-hyeong and Min-Ji Son in The Villainess (2017)
    The Villainess (2017)
    The Villainess (2017)
    Kim Ok-bin in The Villainess (2017)
    Kim Ok-bin in The Villainess (2017)
    Kim Ok-bin in The Villainess (2017)
    The Villainess (2017)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kim Ok-bin
    Kim Ok-bin
    • Sook-hee
    Shin Ha-kyun
    Shin Ha-kyun
    • Joong-sang
    Sung Jun
    Sung Jun
    • Hyun-soo
    Kim Seo-hyeong
    Kim Seo-hyeong
    • Chief Kwon
    • (as Seo-hyung Kim)
    Eun-ji Jo
    Eun-ji Jo
    • Kim Seon
    Ye-Ji Min
    • Sook-hee (young)
    Kwon Hyuk-bum
    • Joong Sang's subordinate #2
    Jung In-Tae
    Hae-Kyun Jung
    Hae-Kyun Jung
    • Jang-Chun
    Yun-Woo Kim
    • Eun-Hye
    Seung-Joo Lee
    • Choon-Mo
    Cheol-min Park
    Cheol-min Park
    • Sook-Hee's father
    Min-Ji Son
    • Min-Joo
    Lee Chae Yun
      • Byung-gil Jung
      • Byeong-sik Jung
      • Byung-gil Jung
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The motorcycle ninja fight scene in this movie inspired a similar scene in John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum.
    • Goofs
      The bottle of Châteaux Margaux in the restaurant scene rotates on the table whilst no-one is drinking or touches it.
    • Quotes

      Sook-hee: Let me show you what you've made me into.

    • Connections
      References Nikita (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      When You and I Were Young, Maggie
      Lyrics by George W. Johnson

      Music by J.A. Butterfield

    User reviews107

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    Frenzied and ferocious action-sequences but a convoluted and slightly generic story.
    'The Villainess (2017)' contains some of the craziest action-sequences in recent cinema, primarily because of the frenzied and ferocious nature of the camera itself. It is used as a tool to put you right in the centre of the violence, often literally putting you in the P.O.V. of our protagonist, and never strays further than a few feet away from any of the killing. As such, there is a claustrophobic and relentless feel to each and every such scene, which don't cut away until away until our lead has finished her dirty-work. Because of this, we don't get to rest until our hero does, instead being breathlessly whisked along from brutal but balletic beat to beat. All of the neck-slicing, blood-spilling, body-piling action feels guttural, given a visceral and grimy sense that only one person can survive. This runs counter to most high-concept pictures of the kind, where glossy, clean framing and shiny, pain-free choreography paint a picture of violence that doesn't really hurt and death that doesn't really matter. While death is depicted as similarly cold and callous here, each life that is taken feels painful and we're always on edge for the few people we care about. It's in both the tight and precise but scrappy and explicit fight-choreography, and subsequent blood-letting, and the down-and-dirty camera-work that the picture finds its footing as an 'in-the-trenches' and 'honest' depiction of despicable work, revenge in high-numbers shown from right up-close and watched with gritted teeth. The strongest of sequences are the opening first-person fight and a phenomenal sword-crossing motorbike chase. Both of these use impressive long-takes and hidden camera-cuts to appear as fluid as possible, with the former being an apparent 'one-shot' until its final moments. The use of small digital cameras allows the frame to go places it wouldn't normally be able, with the audience being transported into a one-on-god-knows-how-many battle or even through the wheels of a moving bike seamlessly, and it allows for a very intimate relationship with the lead and her struggle to survive. The only time a combat scene falls slightly short is in the feature's final movement, with some ever-so-slightly dodgy green-screen sky-replacement honestly looking pretty hokey and reducing the effect of the entire segment. Still, what was achieved on its relatively low budget is undeniably impressive and equally exciting. What isn't as exciting are its slower segments and convoluted, though completely understandable, plot. The contrast of its balls-to-the-wall action with its rather domestic, though still out-there and thematically appropriate, story is quite heavy and isn't always balanced too well. There are times where it feels as though the piece has switched gears entirely, with its initial intentions then coming crashing back down onto its new pace just as you're settling into it. This is conceptually appropriate but it does take you out of the film. As does the contrived plot-device used to inject tension and a proper antagonist in the latter half of the second act. This 'twist' feels as though it comes from nowhere, without the explanation afforded to other sequences of less importance, and is handled with confusion even within the narrative. Still, it doesn't ruin the plot and begins to inject some decent pacing back into the piece. It just feels like most of the picture is, or was trying to be, set-up for this moment but it happens too late for that to be the case, or for it to work successfully. On the whole, there isn't anything that isn't enjoyable about the picture. The eclectic, energetic and exciting action-sequences are a sight to behold and the flick plays with some intriguing themes, as well as having an appropriately 'strange', if slightly generic, story. It is always entertaining, even if it loses its drive and isn't quite as pacy as you'd expect. 6/10
    helpful•15
    3
    • Pjtaylor-96-138044
    • May 25, 2018

    Details

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    • Release date
      • June 8, 2017 (South Korea)
      • South Korea
    • Official sites
      • Arrow Films (United Kingdom)
      • Official site (Japan)
      • Korean
    • Also known as
      • Seoul, South Korea
    • Production companies
      • Apeitda
      • Next Entertainment World (NEW)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 2 hours 4 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Digital

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