90
The New York Times by Robert Daniels
Beneath the gore that ensues is a story about understanding.
Kill Boksoon (길복순)
Critic Rating
(read reviews)User Rating
- South Korea
- 2023
- · 137m
Director
Byun Sung-hyun
Cast
Jeon Do-yeon,
Sol Kyung-gu,
Kim Si-a,
Esom,
Koo Kyo-hwan,
Kim Sung-oh
Genre
Action,
Adventure,
Thriller
Gil Bok-Soon is a fearsomely talented assassin at a prestigious agency. Known as "Kill Boksoon," she is respected, hated, and desired by her fellow industry professionals. She's also the unassuming single mother to Jae-yeong, her closeted lesbian daughter. Before an important contract renewal, Boksoon is given an assignment that even she is unwilling to handle.
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What are critics saying?
89
Paste Magazine
Jeon truly shines. Her chameleon-like ability to turn from a concerned mom to a dangerous killer, without the viewer doubting either aspect of her persona, is riveting.
89
Paste Magazine by Aparita Bhandari
Jeon truly shines. Her chameleon-like ability to turn from a concerned mom to a dangerous killer, without the viewer doubting either aspect of her persona, is riveting.
80
The Guardian by Leslie Felperin
Like a lot of topline Korean films, this prestige action thriller is a little too long at 137 minutes, but it’s consistently entertaining throughout, and quite well-suited given the length to being viewed on a streaming platform.
70
Screen Daily by Wendy Ide
Aside from the mother-daughter relationship angle, this splashy, showy assassin picture doesn’t really cover any new ground. But the lack of imagination elsewhere is offset by some impressively slick tailoring – Boksoon really does dress to kill – and extravagantly athletic fight sequences.
70
The Hollywood Reporter by Jordan Mintzer
At well over two hours it’s way too long and heads more or less where you think it will, but it’s fun to watch Byun and Jeon deliver the goods both viscerally and, at times, movingly.
63
RogerEbert.com by Simon Abrams
Byun ultimately pulls too many punches, but Kill Boksoon remains impressive, if only for its unexpected sensitivity and considerable emotional range.
60
NME
While the film doesn’t necessarily offer anything new for fans of the genre, Kill Boksoon is still a tremendously fun action-thriller that more than makes up for its formulaic blemishes with an abundance of superb set-pieces, engaging domestic drama and offbeat wit.
60
Los Angeles Times by Noel Murray
Some of that professional lingo (like calling contracts “shows” and first assignments “debuts”) makes the story function as a sly metaphor for the entertainment business; and Byun’s stylish action sequences juice up the film’s second half.
60
NME by Hidzir Junaini
While the film doesn’t necessarily offer anything new for fans of the genre, Kill Boksoon is still a tremendously fun action-thriller that more than makes up for its formulaic blemishes with an abundance of superb set-pieces, engaging domestic drama and offbeat wit.
50
Movie Nation by Roger Moore
What this movie doesn’t have is “pace.”
50
Variety by Jessica Kiang
Kill Boksoon, like its heroine, could do with learning that there’s more to life than being highly efficient in execution.
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