Why No Other Choice is the perfect thriller hailed as a “masterpiece” that you need to know about

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I just heard about this new South Korean movie, No Other Choice, and it’s getting amazing reviews! It’s a black comedy thriller that’s screening at the BFI London Film Festival, and apparently, The Hollywood Reporter thinks it could be a big contender during awards season. Sounds like something I need to check out!

From the director of films like *Oldboy*, *Lady Vengeance*, and *Decision to Leave*, comes a new movie starring Lee Byung-hun (known from *Squid Game*). He plays a family man whose life is disrupted when he loses his job after many years of service.

He’s working hard to support his family, but everyday stresses are taking a toll. Making things worse, his field is increasingly threatened by artificial intelligence, meaning there are far more people applying for jobs than there are positions available.

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Desperate and feeling trapped, he chooses to get rid of his rivals, leading to a series of darkly funny and chaotic killings. Naturally, the police start investigating, putting his peaceful suburban life at risk.

The new trailer effectively shows the main character is constantly on the verge of losing control, using a repeating, unsettling sound design. Plus, the film currently has a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Even though *No Other Choice* isn’t officially out yet, it’s already received 60 reviews from critics online, and they’ve all been positive.

Let’s look at what some of them have said:

TimeOut

The film is darkly funny and brilliantly made – it could very well be director Park Chan-wook’s best work yet, and that’s high praise considering he also directed the acclaimed film *The Handmaiden*.

Variety

Park Chan-wook’s new film is a brilliantly chaotic and funny murder mystery, showcasing his incredible skill as a director. It’s further proof that he’s one of the most stylish and refined filmmakers working today.

ScreenDaily

While the movie is very funny and sharply criticizes society, it also carries a subtle, sad message. It’s a touching look at the struggles of people who have been unemployed for a long time and the harshness of big businesses. It also serves as a cautionary tale: as artificial intelligence takes over more jobs, we might all find ourselves in the same difficult situation as the main character, Man-su.

BBC

Throughout the entire film, even during its most darkly comedic and violent moments, Park consistently reminds us that the main character is, at his core, an ordinary man who simply wanted to fulfill his work responsibilities. *No Other Choice* isn’t only Park’s most hilarious movie, but also his most compassionate—a remarkable achievement for such a violent comedy.

Daily Beast

The film *No Other Choice* is surprisingly funny, tackling the idea that humanity’s biggest struggle isn’t about basic needs like dignity or family, but rather avoiding becoming irrelevant. Despite this somewhat dark premise, Park offers a hopeful outlook, largely because his film is brimming with creativity, intelligence, and energy – qualities that machines simply can’t replicate.

Okay, so I’m really excited about this movie! It’s hitting a few US theaters on Christmas Day, which is awesome, and then it’s getting a full release across the States in January. Still no word on when we in the UK get to see it, though – fingers crossed it doesn’t take *too* long!

I’m really excited about this show! If THR is right about it being a contender during awards season, and considering all the amazing reviews it’s been getting, I have a feeling it’s going to be a big deal.

No Other Choice is being screen at the BFI London Film Festival this week.

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2025-10-14 14:49