Man-su has been laid off. Actually, it’s worse: Man-su’s middle-management position has been dissolved—made redundant by advancements in technology, corporate consolidation, and social devaluing of the craft it takes to make everyday objects. What’s a man to do in a world that no longer needs him?

Adapted from Donald Westlake’s novel, The Ax, director Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice does not have a happy answer. Man-su (Lee Byung-hun) isn’t alone. Others share his situation, and now they compete for the last remaining job or resign themselves to obsolescence. One spends his days listening to vinyl records in a previously unused, specially built room. Another laments never barbecuing despite buying a house with dreams of doing so every night. They all drink. Except for Man-su, who’s nine years sober, and can see the solution: Eliminate the competition, and the company will have no other choice but to hire him.

No Other Choice is the kind of flick I can get behind. From the cleverness of the narrative to the craft behind the execution, it all should work. I also love the Faustian ending no one would hope for, let alone work toward. But why can’t Park get this engine to turn over? He teases out Man-su’s plan early, but then draws out the execution in a manner that doesn’t feel intentional or revelatory. I don’t think he’s chastising me for wanting to go there. More like he’s scared of the dead end he’ll find once he does. And find it Park does. His end-credit scene might be the scariest part of the movie.

No Other Choice 어쩔수가없다 (2025)
Directed by Park Chan-wook
Screenplay by Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyoung-mi, Don McKellar, Jahye Lee
Based on the novel The Ax by Donald Westlake
Produced by Jisun Back, Park Chan-wook, Alexandre Gavras, Michèle Ray-Gavras
Starring: Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Woo Seung Kim, So Yul Choi
Neon, Rated R, Running time 139 minutes, Premiered Aug. 29, 2025, at the Venice Film Festival

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