The Deal

The Deal is a captivating South Korean crime thriller movie released in the year 2015. Directed by Son Yong-ho, the movie includes a fascinating ensemble cast led by Kim Eui-sung, Ju-bong Gi, and Jo Jae-yoon. Without giving away any spoilers, this offbeat thriller investigates the duplicity and darkness that can lurk beneath seemingly ordinary circumstances. The Deal puts forth a perpetual dance of morality, justice, and revenge that keeps viewers guessing what will happen next.

The gripping narrative of The Deal is centrically pivoted on Kim Eui-Sung's character, Detective Tae-soo. He is an honest, hard-working detective still reeling from the unresolved murder of his younger sister three years prior. Traumatized by his sister's tragic death, he is overwhelmed by guilt and regret over his inability to catch her killer.

In place of mourning, Tae-soo’s grief takes the shape of an obsessively relentless pursuit for justice, turning him into a stoic and relentless figure within the precinct. Actor Kim Eui-sung perfectly embodies the role with a potent blend of intensity and vulnerability, as he showcases someone consumed by the desire to save his sister posthumously.

Ju-bong Gi plays Chief Detective Choi Cheol-gi, an ambitious officer who, in stark contrast to Tae-soo's personal vendetta, is committed to going by the book. Both characters are brilliantly represented, with sparks flying from their volatile interactions as Tae-soo's relentless pursuit for justice clashes with Choi’s ambition and adherence to protocol.

Another pivotal character whose actions heavily influence the direction of the story is Kang-Cheon, played by Jo Jae-yoon. His dark, foreboding presence is felt right through the movie, making his character a big part of everything happening within the narrative. The cat-and-mouse game that unfolds between these characters forms the crux of the thriller, creating wave after wave of suspense and intrigue.

The Deal is a rich tapestry of complex characters and intense emotions, further enhanced by the gloomy and tense atmosphere of the film. It's a brooding thriller with a raw emotional undercurrent that revolves around loss, guilt, and obsession. The attention to detail and the atmospheric set pieces also add to the overall tone and feel of the movie, successfully evoking a sense of dread and suspense as the plot unfolds.

The movie employs a gritty and realistic aesthetic, hinting at the reality that even surrounded by people, we often wrestle with our demons alone. The devastating backstories of the characters are gradually unveiled, painting a flawed but human picture of its principal characters.

This film is not a feel-good flick for a casual Sunday afternoon. It demands your full attention and pulls you into its gloomy world, and rewards you with a nail-biting sequence of events that continually complicate the narrative, keeping viewers on their edge.

The Deal also serves to highlight the frailty of justice – painstakingly illustrating the lines that must be crossed in a mission to serve it, and the personal sacrifices that often accompany refusal to let go of the past. It's a study in human fallibility and the limitations of regulations when faced with personal tragedies and individual quests for justice, woven together with a plotline that nonlinearly but masterfully leads viewers from one twist to another.

With a captivating storyline, compelling characters, and masterful direction aided by visually appealing cinematography, The Deal keeps you engrossed from the opening scenes till the unpredictable, dramatic conclusion. Evoking various emotions and thoughts, this movie showcases the best of South Korean crime thriller cinematography. A must-watch for lovers of cinematic suspense and psychological intrigue, The Deal is a film that leaves an indelible mark on the viewer even long after the credits roll by.