Killing Game

Upon his release from prison, Hyuk turns away his girlfriend Mina who has come to greet him. He admonishes her to forget about him. He finds a job at a pool hall but it seems trouble follows Hyuk around. He gets in the middle of a gang fight and ends up saving gang leader Ju-cheol. As a token of gratitude, Ju-cheol gives a slice of his own territory to Hyuk. Kyung-suk, Ju-cheol's right hand man, becomes threatened by Hyuk and so challenges him to a fight. The loser has to leave the area for good. Kyung-suk ends up losing the fight and he takes off for Tae-baek, a mountainous city. There, he becomes a faithful member of Kang-ho's gang and kidnaps Hyuk's former martial arts master. Ju-cheol asks Hyuk to help the martial arts master who also happens to be his friend. Hyuk returns to his hometown of Tae-baek only to find that Kyung-suk has kidnapped his old flame Mina. Hyuk, vowing vengeance, goes underground to find and rescue the two most important people in his life.

Directed by Kang Yong-Kyu, Killing Game leans on a strong ensemble — Lee Kwang-su, Kim Gwang-Su, Cha Ryong — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 1996.