A still from ‘No Other Choice’
| Photo Credit: Neon
Park Chan-wook is back and this time, unemployment is a killer. The acclaimed South Korean filmmaker behind Oldboy, The Handmaiden, and Decision to Leave has unveiled the first trailer for his new film, No Other Choice, a darkly comic thriller about capitalism, desperation, and murder.
Adapted from Donald E. Westlake’s 1997 novel The Ax, the film stars Squid Game actor Lee Byung-hun as Man-su, a devoted husband and father whose world crumbles when he’s suddenly laid off after 25 years at the same company. Struggling to find work in an unforgiving job market, Man-su becomes consumed by paranoia and panic — until he hatches a chillingly pragmatic plan: eliminate his competition.
As the trailer teases, Park’s trademark tonal balance of brutality and absurd humor is on full display. Between bursts of violence, Man-su’s gruesome “job hunt” unfolds like a perverse office satire — complete with absurd interviews, mundane small talk, and increasingly creative murder weapons. One moment he’s wielding a chainsaw; the next, he’s using a potted plant.
Following its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival, No Other Choice has been making the rounds at Toronto, Busan, and New York, earning critical acclaim and the inaugural International People’s Choice Award at TIFF. Critics have hailed it as one of Park’s most accessible films to date.
With awards buzz already building, No Other Choice could mark a new high for Park Chan-wook, and potentially bring an end to his Oscar-less spell.
Published – October 09, 2025 11:15 am IST
