Kill Boksoon (2023)
Film · Action, Drama, Thriller, Crime
Stream itif you want high-calibre stunt work combined with a witty, character-driven family drama.
A slick, hyper-stylized action ride that balances high-octane fight choreography with a surprisingly grounded exploration of motherhood. It is relentless and visually inventive, perfect for fans of modern, polished assassin cinema.
What it is about
At work, she's a renowned assassin. At home, she's a single mom to a teenage daughter. Killing? That's easy. It's parenting that's the hard part.
Trailer
What Kill Boksoon is like, and who it is for
What it is like to watch
Watching this film is a rhythmic experience that alternates between kinetically filmed, hyper-violent set-pieces and quiet, tension-filled domestic scenes. It feels incredibly polished, utilising sharp editing and vibrant colours to elevate the secret underground world of professional killers. The intensity spikes during creative fight sequences, yet the pace remains deliberately measured to allow the lead performances to breathe.
Who it is for, and who should skip it
This is a perfect match for those who appreciate the 'John Wick' school of stylised action but desire more emotional substance. If you find long runtimes or the intricate politics of fictional secret societies tedious, you might find the narrative slightly overstuffed. A significant caveat is the length; at over two hours, the film's indulgence in world-building can occasionally dampen the narrative momentum.
The right evening for it
It suits an evening when you want something visceral and visually impressive, yet are also in the mood for a grounded story about the messy, complicated reality of parent-child relationships.
Written by our AI from the facts on this page. It has opinions; it has not watched it.
Another trailer
Trailer · Official Trailer 2 [Subtitled]
How Kill Boksoon leaves you
One line on the mood it ends on, with no plot. Some people count that as a spoiler, so it stays hidden until you ask.
You will likely feel invigorated by the inventive choreography while remaining thoughtful about the protagonist's impossible balancing act. It leaves a sharp, stylish, and slightly bittersweet impression.
How Kill Boksoon ends
Spoilers. The whole ending, in a few lines. Nothing shows until you ask and then confirm.
After killing Min-hee in revenge, Bok-soon faces Min-kyu in a final, violent confrontation. Recognising his emotional connection to her, she manipulates his feelings and kills him. However, she discovers that the entire fight was being streamed live to a tablet delivered to Jae-young. Rushing home in a panic, Bok-soon is surprised to find her daughter calm and affectionate rather than traumatised by the footage.
The film ends with Bok-soon tending her plants while a news report confirms the corrupt prime minister candidate has died by suicide. Jae-young, mirroring her mother's style, returns to school to deliver cryptic threats to So-ra and Chul-woo before departing with newfound confidence. This final sequence suggests that Jae-young has accepted her mother's nature and is beginning to emulate her strength and ruthlessness.
Summarised by our AI from the plot section of the Wikipedia article, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. This summary is shared under the same licence.
Stills
Images from TMDB.
If you like this, try
The Man from Nowhere (2010)
a similarly slick Korean action aesthetic paired with a protective parental bond
Atomic Blonde (2017)
the same emphasis on long-take combat and highly stylised visual storytelling
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More clips
Trailer · Date Announcement Trailer [Subtitled]
Kill Boksoon soundtrack
Music by Kim Hong-jip and Lee Jin-hee
Questions people ask
- Is Kill Boksoon an epic film?
- Yes. On Watchlist Boosted it is tagged Epic. A slick, hyper-stylized action ride that balances high-octane fight choreography with a surprisingly grounded exploration of motherhood. It is relentless and visually inventive, perfect for fans of modern, polished assassin cinema.
- How long is Kill Boksoon?
- Kill Boksoon runs 137 min and was released in 2023.
- Where can I watch Kill Boksoon in Australia?
- In Australia, Kill Boksoon is included with Netflix (all plans).
- Who composed the music for Kill Boksoon?
- The music for Kill Boksoon is by Kim Hong-jip and Lee Jin-hee.
- Is Kill Boksoon worth watching?
- Stream it: if you want high-calibre stunt work combined with a witty, character-driven family drama. IMDb users rate it 6.6 out of 10 from 15,838 votes, Rotten Tomatoes gives it 79%, Metacritic 67 and TMDB users 6.9.
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