No Other Choice (2025)

Plot Summary

In this gripping Korean thriller, Lee Byung-hun stars as Man-soo, a devoted employee who is abruptly laid off from the paper company where he has worked for years. Struggling to find new employment in a harsh economic climate, Man-soo becomes increasingly desperate and eventually devises a chilling plan: to eliminate his job competitors one by one.

Son Ye-jin plays Mi-ri, Man-soo’s warm-hearted wife, who remains a grounding force amid his moral descent.

Adapted from Donald Westlake’s 1996 novel The Ax, the film explores the dark side of job insecurity and economic pressure in South Korea.

Director Park Chan-wook aims to intensify the story’s moral dilemma, with an expanded role for Mi-ri that adds emotional depth to the protagonist’s unraveling. Park Chan-wook describes the film as “a heartbreaking story about a middle-aged man who lost his job and becomes a serial killer in the process of trying to feed his family.”

• Lee Byung-hun as Man-soo
• Son Ye-jin as Mi-ri
• Park Hee-soon as Choi Seon-chul
• Lee Sung-min as Koo Beom-mo
• Yeom Hye-ran as A-ra
• Cha Seung-won as Go Si-jo
• Yoo Yeon-seok as Oh Jin-ho

News

Originally envisioned as an English-language film in Hollywood, this project had been in development by director Park Chan-wook for many years. However, due to a lack of investment, the project was shelved in 2017. It wasn’t until 2024 that the film finally secured funding and was revived—this time as a Korean-language production.

Filming was completed in early 2025, but due to extended post-production work, the film missed the submission window for the Cannes Film Festival in May. Instead, it marked Park Chan-wook’s long-awaited return to the official section of the Venice International Film Festival, 20 years after Lady Vengeance, and was officially selected for the main competition.

The film also serves as Son Ye-jin’s highly anticipated comeback, marking her first project since giving birth.

For Lee Byung-hun, the film represents his first collaboration with Park Chan-wook in 21 years, following Three… Extremes and Joint Security Area. When considering only Park’s solo directorial efforts, it’s their first reunion in 25 years.

Adding to the anticipation, Lee Byung-hun and Park Hee-soon reunite on screen just months after working together on Squid Game Season 3, further heightening interest in the film.