The Villainess
Seen it?2017 | 129 min | Action, Thriller
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
It earned strong reviews (85% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it made about 70 times its budget, despite little lasting buzz. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who likes to be kept guessing and action fans. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Tense.
- The pace
- Fast-moving, at 2 hr 9 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in Korean, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
Honed from childhood into a merciless killing machine by a criminal organization, assassin Sook-hee is recruited with the promise of freedom after ten years of service. However, secrets from her past destroy everything she’s worked for and now she embarks on a roaring rampage of revenge.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
85% on Rotten Tomatoes, 64 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
6.9 out of 10
- AwardsSolid
8 wins and 9 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$9 million worldwide on a $125K budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 53K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Wanted
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Cast & crew
Directed by Jung Byung-gil
- Kim Ok-vinSook-hee
- Shin Ha-kyunJoong-sang
- Sung JoonHyun-soo
- Kim Seo-hyungKwon-sook
- Cho Eun-jiKim Sun
- Lee Seung-jooChoon-mo
- Jung Hae-kyunJang Chun
- Park Cheol-minSook-hee's Father
- Son Min-jiMin-joo
- Min Ye-jiYoung Sook-hee