Believer 2
Promotional poster
Hangul
독전 2
Literal meaningSolo Battle
Revised RomanizationDokjeon 2
Directed byBaek Jong-yul
Screenplay byKim Hee-jin
Produced byLim Seung-young
Starring
Music byPrimary
Production
companies
Distributed byNetflix
Release dates
  • October 5, 2023 (2023-10-05) (BIFF)
  • November 17, 2023 (2023-11-17) (Netflix)
Running time
116 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean

Believer 2 (Korean: 독전 2) is a 2023 South Korean action crime film directed by Baek Jong-yul. It is a sequel to the 2018 film Believer and stars Cho Jin-woong, Cha Seung-won, Han Hyo-joo, Oh Seung-hoon, Kim Dong-young, and Lee Joo-young.[1] The sequel follows Won-ho's investigation of looking for "Rak," who disappeared after Brian's incarceration, while getting to the core of the elusive drug cartel. It premiered at 28th Busan International Film Festival in 'Korean Cinema Today - Special Premiere' section on October 5, 2023.[2] It is available for streaming on Netflix from November 17, 2023.[3][4]

Cast

Main

A persistent detective who has been tracking the true nature of a drug organization for a long time.
A hidden figure in the organization. He impersonated as 'Mr. Lee' in the previous film.
The closest associate of Mr. Lee and in charge of handling the organization's affairs.
A member of the organization who helped Wonho with his investigation, but then disappeared. Previously played by Ryu Jun-yeol.

Supporting

  • Seo Ha-jung as Eun-kwan
Brian Lee's personal bodyguard.
A deaf, mute drug cook and the brother of Rona.[6]
A deaf, mute drug cook and the sister of Manko.[7]
A detective from Team 1 of the Narcotics Investigation Unit at the Seoul Eastern Police Station.
A member of Mr. Lee's organization in Thailand.
A person who pretends to be a union member of a factory employee who was already on standby at a local drug factory.
  • Choi Kwang-il as Chief Song
  • Tzi Ma as Mr. Lee

Special appearance

A Chinese-Korean drug lord. Previously played by Kim Joo-hyuk.

Production

Netflix confirmed the production of Believer 2 a sequel to the 2018 crime action film Believer in June 2022. The film is directed by Baek Jong-yul and the cast includes the return of lead actors and actresses Cho Jin-woong and Cha Seung-won, Han Hyo-joo, Oh Seung-hoon, Kim Dong-young and Lee Joo-young.[8][9] The film was wrapped up in November 2022 in Norway.[10]

Release

The film had its premiere at the 28th Busan International Film Festival in 'Korean Cinema Today - Special Premiere' section on October 5, 2023.[11] It is available for streaming on Netflix from November 17, 2023, in selected regions.[3][12]

Reception

Critical response

James Marsh of South China Morning Post rated the film 1/5 and criticized the "excessive violence in a Korean action movie" and character of Han Hyo-joo writing, "preposterous new villain, Seob So-chen, aka Big Knife, a deadpan, chain-smoking angel of death who descends onto the scene from China sporting bad skin, even worse teeth, thick glasses and a penchant for decapitations." He concluded, "Even those who remain committed are in for two exhausting hours of relentlessly histrionic mayhem and misdirection that ultimately adds nothing but questions to its infinitely superior forerunner".[13]

Lori Meek of Ready Steady Cut rated the film 3/5 and wrote, "Like its predecessor, the film offers plenty of gratuitous violence while adding layers and twists to its story."[14]

References

  1. ↑ Yang Yu-jin (June 20, 2022). "넷플릭스, '독전2' 제작 확정…한효주·오승훈 합류 [공식]" [Netflix confirms production of 'Solo 2'... Hyo-Joo Han and Seung-Hoon Oh joined [Official]]. My Daily (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  2. ↑ Ramachandran, Naman (August 24, 2023). "'Parasite' Oscar Winner's Directorial Debut Among Busan's Korean Cinema Today, On Screen Strand Selections". Variety. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  3. 1 2 George, Crystal (January 17, 2023). "Full list of Korean dramas and movies coming to Netflix in 2023". Netflix Life. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  4. ↑ Kim Na-yeon (November 2, 2023). ""끝나지 않은 전쟁" 조진웅→한효주 '독전2', 메인 포스터 공개" [“Never-ending war” Cho Jin-woong → Han Hyo-joo’s ‘Solo War 2’, main poster revealed] (in Korean). Star News. Retrieved November 2, 2023 – via Naver.
  5. ↑ Cho Yeon-kyung (June 16, 2022). "[단독] 한효주 '독전2' 新캐릭터 큰 칼 합류…파격 변신" [[Exclusive] Han Hyo-joo 'Believer 2' new character joins the big knife... radical transformation]. JTBC (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  6. ↑ Kim Ji-woo (September 27, 2023). "'독전2' 한효주 온다…11월 17일 공개" [Han Hyo-joo is coming to ‘Solo Battle 2’… Released on November 17th] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Retrieved September 27, 2023 – via Naver.
  7. ↑ "조진웅 재활약부터 한효주 무자비한 변신까지..'독전2', 캐릭터스틸 공개" [From Jo Jin-woong's rehabilitation medication to Han Hyo-joo's ruthless transformation...'Solo War 2', character stills revealed]. Herald POP (in Korean). Naver. October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  8. ↑ Frater, Patrick (June 20, 2022). "Netflix Greenlights Korean Action Movie 'Believer 2'". Variety. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  9. ↑ Kang Min-kyung (June 20, 2022). "[공식] 류준열 빠진 '독전2', 넷플릭스 제작 확정…한효주·오승훈 합류" [[Official] 'Believer 2' without Ryu Jun-yeol confirmed for Netflix production... Han Hyo-joo and Oh Seung-hoon joined]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  10. ↑ Kim Bum-seok (January 13, 2023). "박찬욱 '박쥐' 품은 CJ, 적진에서 '독전' 뺏어온 넷플릭스" [CJ embraces Park Chan-wook's 'bat', and Netflix steals 'self-defense' from the enemy camp]. Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  11. ↑ Choi Ji-ye (August 24, 2023). "이충현♥전종서 '발레리나'→아빠 송중기 '화란'…28th 부국제, 韓영화 변곡점 될까 [TEN무비]" [Lee Choong-hyun ♥ Jeon Jong-seo 'Ballerina' → father Song Joong-ki 'Hwaran'... 28th sub-international, will it be an inflection point for Korean films [TEN Movie]]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  12. ↑ Robinson, Jacob (May 22, 2023). "'Believer 2' Netflix K-Drama Sequel: Everything We Know So Far". What’s on Netflix. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  13. ↑ Marsh, James (October 9, 2023). "Review – Busan 2023: Believer 2 movie review – new Netflix sequel to the 2018 Korean remake of Johnnie To's Drug War is a bloodthirsty, nonsensical mess". South China Morning Post. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  14. ↑ Meek, Lori (November 17, 2023). "Believer 2 Review – A gritty sequel that never quite matches the original". Ready Steady Cut. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
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