Job hunts can be murder. Literally, in the case of Park Chan-wook's upcoming film, No Other Choice.
The heralded South Korean director of Oldboy, The Handmaiden, and Decision to Leave returns with a black comedy all about the perils of capitalism, and the lengths people will go to to survive in an uncaring system.
Adapted from Donald E. Westlake's 1997 horror novel The Ax, No Other Choice stars Squid Game's Lee Byung-hun as Man-su. He's a happy family man with a steady job, but his whole world gets thrown into chaos when his employer abruptly lays him off. Man-su may have 25 years of job experience, but that doesn't mean much in a stagnating job market.
When a solid opportunity comes along, Man-su is desperate not to miss his shot at employment. His surefire plan to get the job? Take out all the other candidates. Permanently.
No Other Choice's trailer offers up morsels of Man-su's grisly murder methods, showcasing him wielding a gun, a chainsaw, and even a potted plant against the people who stand between him and a job.
No Other Choice has made the festival rounds this fall, positioning it as a potential awards contender. Following its premiere at the Venice International Film Festival, it played at the Toronto International Film Festival, Busan Film Festival, and New York Film Festival. It garnered positive buzz and critical acclaim out of each, and even won the inaugural International People's Choice Award at TIFF. Could Park's film make a splash come awards season?
No Other Choice hits theaters Dec. 25.
