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Beasts Clawing at Straws
지푸라기라도 잡고 싶은 짐승들
2020 108 min South Korea 18+
★7.4
Mystery, Thriller, Crime, Drama
Director: Kim Yong-hoon
Trailers
Description
A struggling restaurant owner, caring for his sick mom, finds a bag of cash in a sauna locker, while a customs officer gets into trouble when his girlfriend runs off with money he borrowed from a loan shark.
Worldwide:
$5.71M
Starring
Jeon Do-yeon
Actor
Jung Woo-sung
Actor
Bae Sung-woo
Actor
Awards
6 wins & 10 nominations total
Key opinion
This stylish, multi-layered crime thriller masterfully weaves the intersecting fates of desperate individuals chasing a bag of money. While its non-linear structure and genre-blending style draw frequent comparisons to the works of Guy Ritchie and Quentin Tarantino, it maintains a distinct identity through its focus on class inequality and human greed.
| Screenplay | The narrative structure skillfully utilizes seven chapters to layer a complex, twist-filled plot that rewards the audience's patience. | |
| Production | The film effectively captures a dark, gritty aesthetic through its depiction of neon-lit nightclubs and the visceral atmosphere of the criminal underworld. | |
| Direction | Director Kim Yoon-hun demonstrates a remarkably mature command of craft, showing great potential as a newcomer in the genre. | |
| Theme | The central theme of money as a desperate 'straw' for those in poverty adds a layer of social commentary to the crime-driven plot. | |
| Originality | The film's blend of black humor, thriller, and drama creates an engaging experience for fans of chaotic, fast-paced ensemble cinema, though its abrupt tonal shifts may disorient viewers who prefer a more grounded narrative. |