Notable Cast: Kang Ha-neul, Yoo Hai-jin, Park Hae-jun,
Ryu Kyung-soo, Chase Won-been, You Seong-joo, Kim Keum-soon, Lim Sung-kyun
Although South Korea continues to dominate the market for
phenomenally great crime capers, that doesn’t mean that every film that makes
it to the US will be a gut-punch of entertainment.
On paper, Yadang: The Snitch sounds like it will rank
right up there with some of the best crime caper blockbusters. It features a
relatively stacked cast, slick action sequences, and one of those “keep ‘em
guessing” narratives I thoroughly enjoy. To a certain degree, Yadang
does have those aspects, and for many viewers, that’s enough to warrant a
viewing and thorough enjoyment. Yet, the film is also bogged down by an
unwieldy plot, tonal inconsistencies, and issues in some of its themes that
undermine its overall experience. Take it for its charms and it’s a great time.
Try to start digging a bit more, and the entire scheme tends to crumble a
bit.
To be fair, Yadang: The Snitch is an outright
entertaining film. There’s plenty of glitz and glam in how the entire film is
shot and set up, utilizing its urban landscapes well, particularly its skyline
finale and some of the bombastic car chases that occur throughout the film. The
action is tight, well-designed, and delightfully brutal when it wants to be
(which can play well in conjunction with the lighter tone of its comedic
moments), and it occasionally replicates some of the feelings of the golden era
of Hong Kong crime flicks. You want some jokes? You want some brutal knife
stabbings in the same breath? Look no further, Yadang: The Snitch is
rife with entertaining spectacle that walks a tightrope.
However, the film owes most of its strengths to its
stars.
It’s anchored around the charming and fast-talking
performance of its star, Kang Ha-neul, who brought in his spoon and fork to eat
scenery like it's nothing in the film. As the titular ‘snitch’ Kang-soo, the
film hinges on Kang pulling off the wily freelance criminal who works closely
with the police to undermine the drug trade in Seoul, and he does an admirable
job here keeping the audience glued to the screen. For his character’s arc,
which essentially goes through two redemptions - one told in flashback at how
he came to work with a prosecutor and one that comes when he’s delivered as a
sacrificial lamb for the sake of the film’s plot, he does get to play a bit of
seriousness underneath all his big smiles and swaggering confidence. It’s
welcome in the movie, and Kang carries a lot of the film’s energy as it
navigates some of the hurdles it needs to overcome in its script and
narrative.
However, I’d be sore if I didn’t mention that Yadang
features an incredible secondary cast too, and it’s highlighted by Yoo-Hai-jin,
who absolutely destroys every scene he’s in as the prosecutor that Kang-soo
teams up with to start taking down drug rings. Whether its a small shared meal
between the two or the more intense power plays he makes as a character in the
third act, Yoo Hai-jin is the authentic MVP of the film, and his addition to
the film cannot be understated.
Yet, despite these great aspects, Yadang: The Snitch struggles to find some traction with its larger themes and story. The epic nature of its tale, which serves as an origin story for Kang-soo and his transformation from a drug ring snitch to a key player in political corruption issues— a hot-button topic in South Korea — feels like a lot to digest. Its runtime might be a few ticks beyond two hours, but this one has enough material for a limited series, and one can feel the strain it puts on the film. The leaping time junctions, a plethora of characters that fade in and out of the plot, and the pace of the dialogue and plot make for an overwhelming experience if you’re not prepared to run with it. This does allow it to cover a ton of ground, even if its themes around justice and those who adhere to the law or bypass it tend to get muddled as it progresses, but it can lead to a stuttered execution.
Yadang: The Snitch might not be one of the
upper-echelon crime flicks from South Korea, but it’s hard to deny the sheer
charm and entertainment that it provides. Strong performances, fantastic action
sequences, and slick production values offer enough for most action fans to
sink their teeth into. However, its stuttered narrative, dense plot, and
scattered themes undermine a deeper experience in the film. Don’t let
that stop you, though. With a bit of tightening, Yadang: The Snitch is
the start to a fantastic franchise if they want.
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