[Film Review] Project Wolf Hunting (2022)

What do you get when you pair a Con-Air-esque South Korean action thriller with a sci-fi horror that reminds you of Resident Evil mixed with Universal Soldiers?  Throw in a healthy dose of well-known Korean actors and you get the blood-soaked Project Wolf Hunting.

When a group of nefarious criminals are apprehended in the Philippines, the South Korean government devises a plan to extradite them using a cargo ship following a deadly airport bombing. However, what they don’t know is that the criminals' associates have already infiltrated the ship and that they might not  be the only evil on board

Kim Hong-Seon's manic and brilliant piece of mayhem starts at 1,000 percent and then continues to ramp up with endlessly inventive action sequences, a real sense of danger for all characters, and never-ending fountains of blood making Project Wolf Hunting a unmissable genre film.

Those who get through the bloodsoaked first half of the film are rewarded with a twist in genre and character focus past the mid-way point, revealing that those whom you thought were the main protagonist and antagonist have their Ned Stark end. This is where the secret organization is revealed and their intentions with the remaining people on the boat as well as the one referred to as “Alpha” …

It is also at this point where it becomes clear that pretty boy Seo In-Guk, who plays the worst of the criminals, is not our main focus. Personally I was pleasantly surprised by this development. As a fan of South Korean cinema in general, I enjoy it even more when I can’t predict its direction. 

There are definitely some  twists and turns in this otherwise fairly surface-level splatterfest which gives it just that bit of depth that keeps you watching through the watch time.

South Korean Director Kim Hong-Seon, well-known for the scary exorcism horror Metamorphosis, and thrilling The Chase (both I can sincerely recommend as well), combines his high production value and love for genre films in his works and it shows again in Project Wolf Hunting. He explained during  an audience Q&A at Imagine Fantastic Film Festival, that he loves playing around with stories and genres and was inspired by the infamous ‘experiments’ (UNIT 731) the Japanese performed during WW2. 

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When asked about the almost ridiculous amount of blood in the film, Director Kim explains it was actually a necessity to get passed the South Korean censor board. As long as the blood and gore amounts ventured into the incredulous and fantastical he would be able to get a pass for the film, so he took that advice and took no chances by spilling over 2 tons of blood. 

Although this is not my top favorite work of Kim Hong-Seon, that title is still held by Metamorphosis,I was really able to enjoy this high-energy genre film. Therefore fans of high-octane action, South Korean Project Wolf Hunting is a must-see. This genre-bending movie combines elements of science fiction and action horror to create an unforgettable viewing experience. Don’t expect your favorite to make it to the end, don’t expect too much depth from the plot, and do watch this with a group of friends.

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