Heon-teu / Hunt (2022) - Perfect Balance Between Intellectual Depth and Gritty Action Sequences - 9/10 (31/12/22)

Heon-teu, internationally known as Hunt, is a gritty espionage action movie inspired by actual historical events from the early eighties. The movie revolves around the steady decline of South Korea's military dictatorship throughout the eighties as Korean Central Intelligence Agency Foreign Unit chief Park Pyong-ho attemps to protect the president from assassination attempts while searching for a North Korean mole in his agency.

Most films based upon historical events tend to be boring, long and stiff. The opposite is the case here. This movie has steady pace, fascinating characters and a gripping story with multiple surprising twists and turns that will keep viewers on the edges of their seats until the credits will start rolling.

This film is Lee Jung-jae's directorial debut and he also plays the conflicted protagonist. The actor known for masterpieces such as Typhoon, The Housemaid, The Thieves, New World, Assassination, Operation Chromite, Along with the Gods and Deliver Us from Evil doesn't only live up to expectations but exceeds them because he has learnt valuable lessons from South Korea's greatest directors throughout the past three decades. This movie here features a perfect balance between intellectual depth and visually stunning action sequences that should appeal to many people. The camera work, editing and special effects have all been executed with flair and focus. Let's hope that this excellent movie is only the start for Lee Jung-jae's directorial career.

At the end of the day, anyone who likes action movies or gritty dramas should give Hunt a fair try and spread the word about this wonderful movie that deserves more international acclaim and attention. This movie goes down as one of this year's greatest films and remains entertaining even after multiple viewings. I would highly recommend this film to all my family members and friends.