Parents' Guide to Hunt

Unless you've got a solid grasp of recent Korean history, expect a tough time following the combustive action in this overstuffed political thriller. No one can accuse Squid Game star Lee of taking the easy route with Hunt, his directorial debut, which he also stars in, as under-pressure Korea Central Intelligence Agency Foreign Unit chief Park Pyong-ho. But his intended modern espionage epic, inspired by real events, has far too many storylines thrown into the mix. There are a dizzying amount of assassination attempts, spies versus spies, and international relations. It gets to the point where many of the characters don't seem to be able to follow what's going on, which doesn't leave much hope for the audience.

The conviction and commitment of the cast is total, though. There are shades of The Departed and Heat at times, as its two leads go head-to-head while the political landscape shifts beneath their feet. We get some stylish set pieces, too, ratcheting up tension on both grand scales and in intimate settings. Overall, though, it's frustrating and exhausting too often. Perhaps next time Lee will keep it slightly simpler and tell a more engaging story.