Old Boy

The latest Korean import, Oldboy, has style to spare and a plot—man mysteriously imprisoned for years seeks revenge and an explanation—that sounds interesting enough, even if it’s been done before. The violence on display is beautifully original in a way that video gamers and J-horror fans will certainly appreciate. But once you get past Oldboy’s surface, there’s not much there. Chan-wook Park directs as if he’s making a two-hour music video—flashy camerawork and editing without any higher purpose. The titillation of incest is just as banal in an Asian context, and any attempts at deeper meaning fall flat.