No Other Choice (2025) Film Review: An expertly crafted, pitch-black comedy/thriller

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After twenty-five years of working his way up in the paper industry, Man-su (Lee Byung-hun, probably most well-known for playing the Front Man in Squid Game, 2021-2025) suddenly finds himself unemployed when an American company takes over.

Desperate to maintain his respectable image and wealthy way of life, he devises a unique plan to ensure he gets his desired job by eliminating any potential competition in his line of work.

No Other Choice (2025) is a South Korean black comedy/thriller co-written, produced and directed by Park Chan-wook (The Handmaiden, 2016; Oldboy, 2003).

It is the second adaptation of Donald Westlake's 1997 novel, The Ax, following the 2005 French-language feature directed by Costa-Gavras, to whom No Other Choice is dedicated in the closing credits.

Chan-wook has created another magnificent piece to add to his impressive portfolio, presenting a completely original cinematic experience that remarkably manages to balance multiple genres, tones and themes into an all-around impressive final product.

Lee Byung-hun stars in the leading role as Man-su, a working expert in the paper industry who goes to extreme lengths to ensure he is the top candidate for his desired position after he is abruptly laid off

The movie is bristling with scathing, sharp social satire and making a mockery of the modern working culture, whilst also examining many other fascinating concepts, such as deconstructing masculinity and one's status in today's society.

Powered by a slick script, rich thematic storytelling and masterful direction, the film is a thoroughly entertaining watch from beginning to end and provides plenty of food for thought long after the closing credits.

The movie challenges viewers with its constant subversion of expectations and abrupt changes of tone, which miraculously work wonders in paralleling how real life can often play out completely unexpectedly.

It consistently surprises with its peculiar combination of absurdist, very dark comedic scenarios and timely social commentaries with genuinely gripping tension as Man-su concocts his wild plan to kill off his corporate rivals.

The movie is ruthless in its overly cynical viewpoint of the exaggerated extreme side of unexpectedly being made redundant; however, this bleak, morbid quality is contrasted by its hilarious satirical and situational comedy.

The initial premise of the film's story provides a universal hook for a wide variety of audiences, as so many people have experienced layoffs or unemployment and the subsequent self-confidence that results from this stressful, life-altering event.

No Other Choice, in a similar fashion to Bong Joon Ho's Oscar-winning Parasite (2019), expertly crafts a unique blend of black comedy and chilling thrills to provide its timely commentary on modern society

Despite being a South Korean production, hopefully, this film will gain recognition from general audiences due to its inherent relatability and mass appeal.

The movie cleverly draws direct comparisons to changes occurring in the workplace right now, such as the rise of AI and the uncomfortable implications this has on many people's livelihoods and even their own identities.

The film definitely has the potential to be hailed as a modern classic due to its profoundly contemporary themes and universally identifiable anti-hero/protagonist.

Lee Byung-hun is exceptional in the leading role as a man driven to despair following his redundancy, questioning his own self-worth as a man being able to provide for his family and keep their luxurious home, which causes him to turn to criminal activities in order to secure his future.

It is a deeply fascinating story to follow with plenty of narrative potential, and Byung-hun is brilliant as he juggles multiple emotive states at once, going from a hopeless nervous wreck to a cold-blooded schemer and loving father between scenes.

It is a particularly unhinged performance which fires on all cylinders.

All of the cast also deserve recognition and praise for each of their respective roles, bringing their own layer of humanity and comedic talent to the film's unique tonal shifts.

Chan-wook's extraordinary direction and the movie's overall technical qualities are another key highlight to draw attention to. The production team managed to create a fully sensational, truly engrossing cinematic experience through inventive visual presentation and an immersive sound design.

The camera feels like a character in its own right as it actively engages with its surroundings and puts characters' personal experiences front and centre. Chan-wook utilises superimposed imagery and some lovely seasonal transitions to give the film its own unique style and enrich the drama-comedy.

Although an often ludicrous black comedy which pokes fun at its own nonsensical plotting and characters, the film is directed with a smooth elegance which includes many visually striking scene compositions and shots to draw viewers further into this world.

Despite featuring a razor-sharp satirical script, the film still manages to include many poignant moments of authentic family drama as Man-su's current unemployment and mental deterioration affect his relationships with his wife, teenage stepson and young daughter

Without giving away any major spoilers, the movie also wraps up excellently with a wonderful, memorable open-ended segment, which leaves space for plenty of questions, but also concludes the story in a satisfying manner.

Overall, No Other Choice currently stands as one of the most critically acclaimed films of 2025 and, at the time of writing, has 19 award wins and a whopping 90 nominations in total. This overwhelmingly positive reception of the film is very much justified, and the movie deserves to be seen by many spectators across the world.

Although inherently less accessible due to its foreign language and unconventional storytelling, this is an outstanding achievement for all involved by managing to paint an increasingly relevant portrait of our modern way of life and the absurdities of societal and working cultures.

Definitely check this one out in cinemas if you are love the art of movie-making!

Check out the trailer for No Other Choice (2025), and please let me know your thoughts in the comments!