I was blown away and disturbed by how over-the-top violent the 2021 Taiwanese horror film The Sadness was. It went where most films didn’t dare to go and ended up being one of the goriest films of the last several years. Not to be outdone by Taiwan, South Korea accepted the challenge and came close to nailing the same honor with Project Wolf Hunting.
Director Kim Hong-sun’s film is a little disjointed but goes for the jugular. Once the insane action kicks in, it never lets up until the credits roll. Hold on tight because Project Wolf Hunting is one helluva crazy ride.
The police are tasked with loading up a group of the most dangerous criminal aboard a ship that will transport them from the Philippines to South Korea. They take every measure possible to ensure everyone’s safety, but they weren’t counting on the ship being attacked by an elite team there to break out a psychotic mobster.
Amid the attack, something is awoken deep within the ship, possessing the strength to crush anything in its path. Good guys, bad guys, none of that will matter anymore when a biological humanoid escapes, and no one will be safe.
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This is one of those rare films that takes a few minutes to get started, then goes into overdrive and never lets up. It is Under Siege mixed with Con Air until the sci-fi/horror elements come in. Then it can best be described as a mash-up of The Terminator and Universal Soldier.
The action consists of some of the most brutal kills I’ve seen. According to the director, two and a half tons of blood were used during the production. That makes for a pretty messy set, but it gives audiences a visual treat to go along with the terrific sound design. Every punch, limb removal, or neck snap hits even harder when blasting through a surround system.
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Sometimes the narrative is a bit sloppy and a little tough to follow, but aside from the insane amount of violence, what stands out is the unpredictability of who lives and who dies. No character is safe, so it’s next to impossible to guess a character’s fate. With Project Wolf Hunting’s success, more films are being planned, and topping the original will be in the cards.
Well Go USA Entertainment delivers a solid disc with a vibrant transfer and crisp audio to deliver a one-of-a-kind experience. The film is presented in its original language with English subtitles and the option to change it to an English dub if you prefer. Also included are trailers and a couple of behind-the-scenes segments.
Do not miss Project Wolf Hunting. It lives up to the hype and delivers so much more. Catch it On Demand or pick up a physical copy.
