Review: Project Wolf Hunting

Text © Richard Gary / Indie Horror Films, 2023
Images from the Internet

Project Wolf Hunting (aka Neugdaesanyang; 늑대사냥)
Directed by Hongsun King
The Contents On (TCO); Cheum Films; Contents G; Finecut International; Well Go USA Entertainment; Hi-YAH!
122 minutes, 2022
https://wellgousa.com/films/project-wolf-hunting 
#ProjectWolfHunting @WellGoUSA

I am no expert on Asian horror cinema, even though I enjoy it, but it seems since Train to Busan (2016), Korean cinema has taken blood, gore, and violence up a notch. It is nearly as though they are in competition with Japan and Hong Kong to be the hardest edge. Well, this film definitely has that in mind.

A cargo freighter has been reassigned to ship a large number of extremely violent criminals (serial killers, gangsters, murderers, necrophiliacs, and the like) that have tried to flee justice and extradite them from the Philippines (where this was filmed) back to Korea for sentencing.

Right from the beginning, before the credits, this starts with a bang and a leg up on the body count pedestal, setting up the premise of why the boat is in play. The convicts of both sexes are easily identifiable by sight, but forgive me if I get a name or two incorrect listing them.

This crosses many genre boundary lines, which is impressive, from crime drama, escaped prisoners (c’mon, that is a given), body horror, creature feature, and mutilation. But more on this later.

The lead criminal is the multi-tattooed sociopathic serial killer, Park Jong Du (Seo In-Guk, who really seems to be relishing the role). He is part of a gang that has also infiltrated the ship to steal a whole bunch of moolah from the cargo hold. Also captive is Do Il (Dong-Yoon Jang), a laid-back martial arts expert. Meanwhile, deep in the bowels of the ship, a doctor is brought along to deliver a serum to what looks like a rotting and maggoty cadaver, but you know there will be another layer to that. He is accompanied by a very nasty nurse, personality wise, who has no idea of his actions.

Once the prisoners escape their bonds, the bloodshed is practically enough to keep the boat afloat on its own; yeah, I know it is a ship, but “boat afloat” sounds better, doncha think? My question is though, if the convicts escape, where will they take the ship? They certainly cannot go to either Korea or the Philippines, and I cannot imagine China or Japan taking them. Maybe they all can get to Carnage City coz they are heading to a bloodbath.

Besides, how many will survive once Alpha (Gwi-hwa Choi), the revived Frankenstein’s monster-ish (green skin and all) super strong creature gets loose? The body count is literally in the multiple of dozens by various gory means.

Most of the actors, from what I understand, are major players in Korea, and it shows in the performances in this film. Sure, there is a bunch of yelling, as in just about every Asian film ever made, but there is also subtly, such as with the policewoman, Jung So-Min (cute Lee Da Yeon).

Part of what makes this film so powerful is that, even though some plot lines are predictable, at the same time most of it – especially during the explosive middle and third act – certainly caught me by surprise a number of times, both in story plot, and who lives and who dies. There are a multitude of influences here, such as the isolation with a killer monster as in Alien (1979), the uprising of convicts such as No Escape (1994), and the genetically enhanced human through science of Seobok: Project Clone (2021; also from South Korea).

The SFX, both practical and digital, is nothing short of stunning, with more blood than, say, the lawnmower scene of Dead Alive/Braindead (1992). That is saying a lot. According to IMDB (see the link below), more than 1.5 tons of “blood” was used. Now, to be truthful, it looked a bit watery, but shit, it is beautiful and plentiful. The photography is also quite exquisite, in wide screen, as well as the editing. On occasion it is a bit hard to see all the action due to the narrow spaces in which the film was shot, but it may still take your breath away.

Either this was filmed on an actual ship, or the set designer deserves an Oscar. Much like the corridor scene of Oldboy (let us get real, the original 2003 version), the spaces tend to be tight with pipes all around; it could only be more squished if it were a submarine. They make the use of the space they have and use it to its ultimate purpose.

Literally, from the beginning to the end, there is barely a wasted moment, even at the full two hours running length. Great storytelling, amazing bloodletting, spot on acting, and a wonderous mix of genres. The director, Hongsun King, who also wrote the screenplay, does a masterful job.

Available on Blu-ray and DVD, Project Wolf Hunting features an all-new English dub (I saw the Korean language version with subtitles), along with bonus content including “Behind the Scenes” and “Making the Alpha” featurettes.

IMDB listing HERE