[Review] 'Dokjeon 2' Disappointing Sequel, Keep the Third One Aside

Netflix Movie 'Dokjeon 2' Review

Artificial Character Play... Weak Narrative
Warning Against Careless Sequel Production with 'Let's Just Make It' Attitude

'Bang!' The gunshot that shook the snowy field and the fade-out. The ending scene was enough to arouse curiosity. The story of who held the gun and what happened during that time is revealed. The film 'Believer 2,' which started with interest, seems to have run aground weakly without finding its footing. It is likely to remain an 'unfortunate example' of sequel planning.

'Believer 2' (directed by Baek Jong-yeol) is the sequel to 'Believer,' which was released in 2018 and attracted 5.2 million viewers. It is a midquel that depicts events that occurred in the middle of the timeline covered by the previous film, marking the first attempt of its kind in Korean cinema. The film was released on the online streaming service (OTT) Netflix on the 17th. Prior to that, it was unveiled at last month’s Busan International Film Festival in the 'Korean Cinema Today - Special Premiere' section.

'Believer 2' stills
[Photo by Netflix]

Produced by Yong Film, 'Believer 2' tells the story leading up to the gunshot between Detective Won-ho (played by Jo Jin-woong) and Seo Young-rak (played by Oh Seung-hoon) meeting in Norway at the end of the first film. Instead of director Lee Hae-young, who directed the first film, Baek Jong-yeol, known for 'The Beauty Inside' (2015), took the helm.

Won-ho continues to chase Mr. Lee after the brutal fight at Yongsan Station. The story follows the missing Seo Young-rak, the reappearance of Brian (Cha Seung-won), and Geun-kal (Han Hyo-joo), who came from China to manage the situation. Won-ho pursues Mr. Lee more fiercely, while Brian’s body weakens, but his desire burns hotter fueled by deep-seated hatred.

Sequels to popular films are a double-edged sword. On one hand, they allow for a fast-paced narrative since there is no need to explain the established recognition and universe from the previous film. On the other hand, if the sequel merely repeats elements that audiences liked in the original, it risks failure. Catering too much to public taste can lead the story astray.

'Believer 2' seems to remain an 'unfavorable example' of sequel planning. Although the production attempt was good, the characters introduced feel scattered due to an over-consciousness of the previous film’s success with character play. The story is not smooth because it focuses on contrived character play. If the characters in the first film were like delicious milk chocolate, the characters in the second film feel like dark chocolate that is hard to swallow.

Perhaps due to an excessive intention toward the genre, the overall tone of the dialogue also causes fatigue. The story is repetitive and sloppy. The heavily emphasized lines and the darkly connected visuals feel burdensome.

'Believer 2' stills
[Photo by Netflix]

Seo Young-rak, played by Ryu Jun-yeol in the first film, is portrayed by Oh Seung-hoon in this sequel, and Han Hyo-joo takes over the baton from the late Kim Joo-hyuk and Jin Seo-yeon, who left a strong impression as villains.

Oh Seung-hoon lacks strength. His passion stands out, but he does not smoothly connect with Ryu Jun-yeol’s portrayal of Rak in the previous film. He struggles among formidable senior actors like Cha Seung-won and Jo Jin-woong, but his role, which should have asserted presence, fails to do so. It neither arouses interest nor displays charm.

The biggest failure lies with Seop So-cheon and Han Hyo-joo. It is a tragic error in building the villain character. Set as the sibling of Jin Ha-rim, played by the late Kim Joo-hyuk in the first film, the character seems somewhat overacted to align with the previous character’s trajectory. Compared to the strong presence of the two villains in the first film, it is insignificant.

Perhaps for this reason, Han Hyo-joo gives the impression of imitating Geun-kal. At an open talk held in Busan, she revealed that she prepared for the role by not drinking water for three days and building her body, raising expectations. Maybe because the expectations were high, the focus on Han Hyo-joo’s physical transformation seems to have backfired, raising expectations too much. The scenes showing her exposed small muscles, which Han Hyo-joo mentioned several times, do not leave a distinctive impression. In the latter part of the film, the narrative that unfolds with a twist is also regrettably regressive.

Applause is due for Han Hyo-joo’s challenge. The passion and courage of an actor determined to take on a new role shine. The countless sweat and effort she poured into preparing for the role are commendable. We hope to see her as another villain with a more attractive face in other works.

'Believer 2' stills
[Photo by Netflix]

Jo Jin-woong and Cha Seung-won maintain the tone of the previous film smoothly and support it with weight. Although the story is sloppy, the two actors’ faces fill the screen and emit energy.

Simply because the first film was a box office success, producing the second or third installments with a 'just make it' attitude no longer works. It must be understood that the planning and production process requires a colder, more thorough approach. While viewers and audiences have changed, if the filmmakers remain trapped in 'past glories,' it is a misjudgment. More than ever, wise eyes are needed.

The ending credits of 'Believer 2' are innovative. The idea, delicacy, and visual beauty stand out, reflecting director Baek’s background as a commercial film director. Running time is 114 minutes. Rated R. Available on Netflix.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.