In 1975 a destitute and abused housemaid of 16 lies on the Korean roadside covered with snow and close to death. A passing motorist, Ryu, picks her up taking her to his restaurant he runs with his wife where she is hired as a helper. Ryu claims to be in pest management and extermination and he is not referring to insects but to lowlife and despicable subhuman men as social pests. When the housemaid kills a U.S. serviceman attempting a violent rape in the restaurant kitchen Ryu is nonplussed stating she has simply killed a bug giving her the nickname “Nails”. So the assassin career of Nails (Hye-yeong Lee) commences.
The Sinseong Agency is founded. Its services are to, at the behest of clients, kill the most depraved and despicable who cause untold suffering to clients and society in general. Assassins with a moralistic code. If an assassin fails in a killing assignment death is the rule. Sohn, boss of the Agency, has been straying from moralistic killings to murder for hire to the dismay of Nails, who having proven her worth to become a legendary assassin earning the nickname Hornclaws (claws of a beast).
A young Turk, Too-Woo (Kim Sung-cheol) with Bullfight as a nickname, emerges on the scene as a ruthless killer delighting in causing the utmost pain and suffering to his victims. Unbeknown to Hornclaw, Bullfight establishes a connection between himself and Hornclaw deserving of a revenge killing of the 60ish Hornclaw even if it means saving her from death so he can make the kill.
The final battle between Hornclaw and Bullfight is a magnificent show of choregraphed fighting. Is Bullfight’s revenge assassination successful?
Although pocked with occasional humour the film is a serious one with reference to age and the female character as weaknesses. Hornclaw has survived prejudice and sexism reaching legendary status but with increasing age the sexism returns coupled with ageism.
If John Wick is a franchise there is no reason why there shouldn’t be “The Old Woman with the Knife II”.
Here is the trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97_3dkfY5nU
The director is Kyu-dong Min.
A VOD release is now scheduled for 26August2025. It demands a double watch due to its density and numerous flashbacks.
RKS 2025 Film Review 92/100.
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