Final Rating: 2/5
Yadang: The Snitch, directed by Hwang Byeng-Gug, is certainly ambitious. With a story spanning several years, the filmmakers attempt to touch on topics like narcotics policing and political corruption in South Korea, all within the framework of an Ocean’s Eleven style heist movie. In taking on so much, however, the film loses focus. Ultimately, it presents more as a confusing and overlong mess of ideas rather than the intricately spun story the filmmakers intended.
Yadang mostly follows Lee Kang-soo (Kang Ha-neul), a man arrested for drug smuggling who begins informing on other drug smugglers in a bid to reduce his sentence. Working alongside opportunistic prosecutor Koo Gwan-hee (Yoo Hae-jin), Lee quickly makes a name for himself as a skilled snitch. While Lee gains both his freedom and a better life, Koo is elevated to a chief prosecutor. But both men are working multiple angles: Lee is just as willing to continue smuggling drugs as he is to inform on fellow smugglers, while Koo will gladly look the other way when Lee’s activities aren’t actively hurting him.
The interesting dynamic between Lee and Koo is undercut by the presence of two other major characters, Oh Sang-jae (Park Hae-joon) and Uhm Soo-jin (Chae Won-bin). Oh is a detective who repeatedly crosses paths with Lee, while Uhm is a victim of a failed drug deal Lee is involved with. Each could lead their own movie: through Oh, the film borders on a noir, while Uhm’s story draws from revenge thrillers. However, between Lee, Koo, Oh, and Uhm, there are too many cooks in the kitchen. Genres mix, plot points blend together, and by the end the film has morphed into a half-baked political thriller which gestures at the idea that corrupt politicians have a hand in the drug trade but doesn’t meaningfully take a stance on that issue.
Director Hwang Byeong-guk has passion, and draws excitedly from plenty of action, heist, and noir movies. He does a serviceable job of capturing each aesthetically. But well-choreographed action scenes and fun heists don’t land unless enough time is spent fleshing out the characters and their relationships.
Yadang: The Snitch sets up plenty of dominoes, but it’s not that satisfying to watch them topple.
Thank you to Well Go USA and Blade Vista Public Relations for the screener.
