Project Wolf Hunting

Project Wolf Hunting is the most intense bloodbath that can be seen this side of the night. The film begins with the transport of 47 prisoners out of the Philippines and brought back to Korea on a cargo vessel as the original by-plane route was shattered by an explosion (already inundating the screen with body parts and blood in the beginning).

It’s essentially Con Air on an island prison ship. Kim takes on and imitates the 1990s Bruckheimer spirit, showing a Tony Scott sunset shot. It’s not realistic to expect the charisma or charm of that time, but it’s a good start. Around one-quarter of an hour is spent on establishing the main characters – the sadistic criminals with a grin-inducing and tattooed Sadist Park (Seo In-guk) as well as the guards, detectives and their tough-minded Chief (Sung Dong-il); the other mysterious parties aboard and corporate supervisors watching the shore and then Kim allows the first corpse to fall with a broken skull and keeps the dead stacking up for two hours.

A group of criminals is being extradited to a cargo vessel protected by armed guards. The criminals in danger band together in a concerted escape plan which escalates into an all-out bloody fight to get their freedom. There is no escape from the dreadful force they unleash from the dark below deck.

Kim is the one who sets up the initial confrontations and hijackings using the type of Bruckheimerian bombast that’s disappearing from Hollywood. Kim makes the best usage of the vessel’s design but spreading the chaos in a disaster movie-style group rather than having a singular protagonist, it means that the tension gets a bit diffused. The main protagonist is a gratuitous carnage already aplenty supplied by characters before the third party becomes involved. If you’ve ever wanted to see someone murdered with the help of his own arm, then you’ve found the right spot.

The action does get boring however, the film picks up towards the end of the third act as opponents show up ready to stand against the basement kid and include a harmless cat Do-il (Jang Dong-yoon) and Kim delivers a series of late-night revelations that are pulpy. In the end, Die Hard’s precision staging has since gone to pure Splatter house but with the B-movie delight it offers.

The description above can be just the beginning of what’s in store for “Wolf Hunting.” While the prisoner plots the escape route, a web of corruption and lies is slowly woven into the plot. It is revealed that there are some secrets in this ship’s cargo that no one had ever heard of, dating all the way to Japanese occupation in the Philippines during World War 2. 

There’s not much that could be said without revealing certain of the more thrilling and shocking elements of the film however, one thing is certain, there’s plenty of skulls and blood to be had. It is advised for viewers not to be too attached to one individual within “Project Wolf Hunting” since no one is safe during this night time cruise.

Project Wolf Hunting Release Date

Genre: Action, Crime Thriller, Horror

Release Date: 21 September 2022

Origin: South Korea

Film 112 minutes

The South Korean action thriller Project Wolf Hunting is available on Blu-ray, digital and DVD February 14 on Well Go USA Entertainment.

Cast

Seo In-guk as Park Jong-doo

Jang Dong-yoon as Lee Do-il

Choi Gwi-hwa as Alpha

Park Ho-san as Lee Seok-woo

Jung So-min as Lee Da-yeon

Ko Chang-seok as Go Kun-bae

Jang Young-nam as Choi Myeong-ju

Sung Dong-il as Dae-woong

Son Jong-hak as Soo-cheol

Lee Sung-wook as Kyung-ho

Hong Ji-yoon as Eun-ji

Jung Moon-sung as Kyu-tae

Lim Ju-hwan as CEO

“Project Wolf Hunting” begins as an eerie slow-burn movie, but then it transforms into a stylish action thriller, and then transforms into an unsettling horror adventure. It’s not the most popular choice for everyone however it does highlight South Korean cinema’s willingness to mix genres and challenge expectations. It’s two hours of pure fun… as well those two hours are guaranteed to remain in your mind for a long time after the credits have ended.