The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil

"The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil" is a 2019 South Korean action-thriller that revolves around an audacious and unorthodox alliance. The city of Cheonan is gripped by fear as a mysterious and brutal serial killer, Kang Kyung-ho, leaves a trail of random victims. His reign of terror takes a surprising turn when he attacks Jang Dong-soo, a formidable and feared local crime boss. Dong-soo, however, becomes the killer's only known survivor, an outcome that severely damages his reputation in the criminal underworld.

Meanwhile, Detective Jung Tae-seok, a hot-headed and ambitious cop, is convinced that the recent murders are the work of a single individual, but his superiors dismiss his theory. Seeing a unique opportunity, Tae-seok approaches the gangster he despises with a dangerous proposition: they will combine their resources—the cop's investigative tools and the gangster's manpower—to hunt down the killer. Their pact is simple: whoever finds the killer first gets to enact their own form of justice. For Tae-seok, it's a legal arrest and prosecution; for Dong-soo, it's brutal, personal revenge. This sets the stage for a tense, high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse, where the lines between law and crime are irrevocably blurred.

The central message of "The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil" is a cynical exploration of justice, morality, and the systems designed to uphold them. Director Lee Won-tae posits that when institutional justice proves inept or corrupt, the vacuum is filled by more primitive, personal forms of retribution. The film challenges the audience to question who the true 'devil' is: the chaotic, motiveless serial killer, the systematically violent gangster, or the cop who readily bends the law for his own ambitions. The uneasy alliance at the film's core suggests that in a world of profound evil, the boundaries between 'good' and 'bad' become meaningless, and fighting a monster may require embracing one's own.

One alternative reading of the film focuses on the title itself. While the roles of 'Gangster', 'Cop', and 'Devil' are explicitly assigned to the three main characters, their actions suggest these labels are interchangeable. The gangster dispenses a form of justice, the cop acts with criminal brutality, and the true 'devil' might be the corrupt system that allows such chaos to flourish. The film can be interpreted not as a story of three distinct figures, but as an allegory for the different faces of evil that society harbors. The ending can also be read less as a victory for the gangster and more as a condemnation of a justice system so flawed that the only satisfying conclusion must happen outside its walls, in the dark confines of a prison shower, perpetuating a cycle of violence.

"The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil" was a commercial and critical success in South Korea and gained significant international attention following its screening at Cannes. Its high-concept premise proved universally appealing, leading to the announcement of a high-profile American remake produced by Sylvester Stallone, with star Don Lee reprising his role. This signaled a growing trend in Hollywood of looking to South Korean cinema for fresh and compelling narratives, especially in the crime and thriller genres. The film's success came amid a global surge in popularity for Korean content, following films like "Parasite" and shows like "Squid Game". Critics praised the film for its stylish execution, brutal action choreography, and particularly the charismatic, star-making performance of Don Lee, who solidified his status as a leading action star both at home and abroad.

Audiences largely praised "The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil" for being a highly entertaining and slick action thriller. The performance of Don Lee as the charismatic gangster Jang Dong-soo received widespread acclaim, with many viewers finding themselves rooting for the compelling anti-hero. The brutal, well-choreographed action sequences, particularly the focus on hand-to-hand combat and knife fights over gunplay, were also a highlight for many. The main points of criticism from some viewers and critics were that the characters, particularly the cop and the devil, could feel like archetypes rather than fully developed individuals. The killer's lack of backstory or clear motivation was seen as a weakness by some, who felt he was more of a plot device than a character. Nevertheless, the overall verdict was overwhelmingly positive, with audiences appreciating the unique premise, gripping pace, and satisfyingly dark ending.