Night in Paradise
Bloody gangster film revels in ruthless violence.
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Night in Paradise
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Night in Paradise is an adults-only Korean crime drama about a young gangster caught up in a gang war. After a particularly devastating blow, the young gangster agrees to hide out on Jeju Island (an island off the coast of South Korea) while things die down. There he meets a terminally ill young woman who also has a troubled past. In many ways, the film is similar to others in its genre, but also different in how it builds an unexpected and unlikely bond between two people who expect to die in the near future. The movie is incredibly violent and bloody. Dozens and dozens of times people get stabbed over and over, in the neck, in the head, and run through with small swords. An equal number of times people get shot, over and over, in the head, neck, face, blood splattering everywhere. There's also a suicide, a car crash that kills a young mother and little girl, gang fights, the aftermath of a family murdered, beatings, stompings, strangulations, head butts, chase scenes on foot and in car, bandaged men getting beat up in a hospital, and people are often shown in peril, terror, and pain. Adults smoke and drink. Sex includes a bare backside and a woman offering herself sexually to a man. Strong language throughout includes all forms of "f--k," including motherf----r," "s--t," "c--t," "bitch," "ass," "goddamn," and more.
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What's the Story?
In NIGHT IN PARADISE, young gangster, Tae-gu, experiences a tragedy. He reacts accordingly, but still has to hide out on Jeju Island while things calm down. There, he meets a young woman, Jae-Yeon, who has a terminal illness. She has also lost a lot in the past. She is depressed, morose, and a little wild. Meanwhile, a war is brewing, and Tae-gu's boss is being weird. Caught in the crossfire, Tae-gu must figure out who to trust, if anyone, whether or not Jae-Yeon is worth his time, and how to survive two gangs wanting him dead.
Is It Any Good?
The violence and set pieces are incredible in this film, if you can stomach it. There's a straightforwardness and realism to director Park's violence in Night in Paradise. Similar to the often-cited brutality of Park Chan-wook's Old Boy or Kim Jee-woon's much gorier and equally violent I Saw the Devil (also written by Park), the violence happens fast and hits hard, and the deaths often last just that extra little while. While there are a few instances that scream "how is that possible?" for the most part, the gloomy and bleak atmosphere succeeds in disrupting the viewer of any hope for a happy ending. Loved ones die, unfairly, unjustly, and yet, the world goes on, and very few people, especially gangsters, care at all.
The film suffers, however, from being too long, even though the slower, more touching scenes do give the two main characters depth and a chance to develop their relationship into something that will be sad to lose. The film also suffers from a few cultural translation ambiguities, like for instance, the film's title, Night in Paradise, which, for many non-Korean viewers, might suggest a romantic film or adult drama without brutal violence. In Korea, however, Jeju Island is often referred to as "paradise" (also, "Korea's Hawaii"), and the title is meant to connote a kind of juxtaposition between this paradise and the vicious, bleak, and merciless gangster world.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in crime dramas and gangster movies. How does the violence in Night in Paradise compare to other films in these genres? Does "accurately" representing the danger and brutality of these worlds justify the violence? Why or why not?
What do you think is the message of the film? Was the film successful in supporting and delivering that message? Why or why not?
How does Tae-gu change over the course of the film? What about Jae-Yeon? In your opinion, between the two, who has the stronger character arc? The deeper role? Why might this be?
Would the film work without the last scene? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: April 9, 2021
- Cast: Eom Tae-goo, Jeon Yeo-bin, Cha Seung-won, Park Ho-san
- Director: Park Hoon-jun
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 132 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 17, 2023
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