Starring Lee Dong-wook and Kim Hye-jun, the director seems to have done a good job with the newly released action-thriller series 'A Shop For Killers.' Based on a novel, is the series worth watching? Or should you skip this? Read on to find out.
A Shop for Killers' is an action-packed thriller, based on a novel 'The Killer's Shopping Mall,' penned by Kang Ji-young. From the very first scene, Disney+'s latest original K-drama has risen the stakes for what's more to come. An unexpected death, a roster of suspects, smooth dropping of clues: it has all the elements that make up a captivating narrative.
In the first two episodes, the story is only building up. There isn’t much that has been revealed but it forms a basis of what’s happening now. The show uses a multi-linear timeline as the story constantly makes its way through the past and the present. In the captivating opening scene, you see Ji-an in the present (played by Kim Hye-jun) trying to make it out alive while fighting off some sharp assassins, while also thinking back to all the advice her uncle (played by Lee Dong-wook) had given her. Those advices seemed unnecessary then but she realizes that all that was only for her to prepare for this moment.
She has now become the target of those deadly assailants solely because of the dangerous trail left behind by her uncle. Just when you try to understand what’s going on, the story cuts to the past, where you see Jin-man’s relations with his family, and how they died, which include his mother, his brother and wife (Ji-an's parents), leaving him with no other choice but to take in Ji-an and care for her, as he is all that she has now.
Now, after living a turbulent life for years in the middle of nowhere, an adult Ji-an moves to Seoul, only to get a call from an unknown caller who informs her of her uncle’s death, declared as suicide. After returning to Jin-man’s home, she tries to dig deep to figure out what went down, only to discover that he sold unimaginable weapons on the dark web. However, before she could unravel her late uncle’s deepest, darkest secrets, she was surrounded by guns, and drones which could fire bullets, and explosives, which targeted her. Now stuck there, she will be forced to remember all the absurd training her uncle gave her over the years, in order to be able to survive through it all, connecting the opening scene to the end of the second episode.
Playing Jeong Jin-man, Lee Dong-wook has taken on the role of playing a man who secretly owns a weapon-selling store while also being a family man to his niece Ji-an. Though he’s the character the story revolves around, the main focus hasn’t been on him. But, on the flip side, with how much ever screen time he had, he perfectly embodied mystery. There was so much depth to his character’s persona, which he portrayed with a neutral expression throughout, leaving viewers to want to know more about his story. Not to forget, his deadly good looks just add to the list of reasons why one would enjoy this show.
Kim Hye-jun as Jeong Ji-an has been the main focus of the first two episodes. She has portrayed her stoic character with such brevity. Her performance has dived into her emotional complexities, ranging from her fight for survival to holding back her emotions at her uncle’s funeral. Her acting skills have poured over the screen, adding depth to the narrative. On the same lines of Ji-an, Ahn Se-bin played the role of her younger version. She brought out the emotional parts in the action-fuelled series. If you shed tears during certain scenes, it’s only because of her. Her acting and her innocence really bring out a protective side of a viewer.
Park Ji-bin as Bae Jeong-min plays Ji-an’s friend and has excellent hacking skills. And, Geum Hae-na as So Min-hye is a top-tier assassin, disguising as a Chinese tutor, who has expertise in all sorts of combat styles. These two have been briefly shown in the first two episodes and are seen with Ji-an in the opening scene, but I believe it’s too soon to comment on their performance. It’s going to be exciting to see how their characters flesh out and how much importance they will be carrying in the narrative which will unfold.
The story is taking its own sweet time to build up with the help of crisp writing. The makers have interspersed the two episodes with flashbacks from Ji-an’s life in a commendable way. There is no fumble and you can easily connect all the dots. Character traits have been established before-hand, so we know what to expect. Each episode runs at an average of 50 minutes, and at no point do you feel that the narrative has been stretched on for longer than needed. The well-crafted script has evidently played a huge role in the making of the series which features high-octane action sequences and a plethora of mystery plots. The end of the second episode has been left at a perfect cliffhanger, inciting an itch in the viewer to want to know what happens next right then and there.
The camerawork is stellar. It features distinctive camera angles especially when depicting the two different time periods. The cinematographer has perfectly captured shots which see the actors deliver their finest performances while trying to convey the raw emotions their characters experience. The way the drones have been used don’t seem fast-paced and don’t stress the eye, giving viewers a proper view of the focal surroundings. Also, a notable mention has to be given to capturing the emotional scenes, which have been well-executed.
When it comes to an action-packed drama, one would expect bold moves, gunfires, bombs, bullets and all things violence. While the action sequences stand out, a slight more polished editing would have enhanced them. Though it doesn’t really compromise the overall effect of the show, such minute things tend to leave an impact. There were many scenes wherein shot changes felt abrupt, and could have been done in a smooth way. Even the CGI use of the hyena mid-scenes was average, at best. But what really stood out was the colour grading. Whenever there was a depiction of the past, there was a certain hue that was used for easier differentiation. That was commendable!
Director: Lee Kwon, Noh Gyu-yeob
Cast: Lee Dong-wook, Kim Hye-jun, Seo Hyun-woo, Jo Han-sun, Park Ji-bin, Geum Hae-na, Lee Tae-young, Kim Jun-bae, Kim Min
Available On: Disney+ Hotstar
Premiere Date: January 17, 2024
Episodes: 2 (as of today)
Genre: Action, Drama
Language: Korean
Duration: 49-53 minutes
Yes, but with parental guidance.
So far, it is a captivating blend of suspense and intrigue, immersing the viewer in the narrative unfolding. It leaves you with only questions, making it tough to wait until next Wednesday. It looks to be a promising K-Drama that will be filled with a rollercoaster of emotions, ranging from anger to sadness along with a thrilling, powerful performance from the phenomenal ensemble.
*Disclaimer: This review is done after the release of the first two episodes.*