The Outlaws is a South Korean crime thriller based on the real events of a detective’s attempt to keep peace while two Chinese-Korean gangs fight for territory.
Led by Dong-seok Ma, best known for his supporting role in Train to Busan, this action-packed thriller finds a perfect balance between gritty gang tension and strong story around characters with a lot of presence. The Outlaws (Korean: 범죄도시)is set in the Chinatown area of Seoul, South Korea where the gangs battle for territory. The Venom Gang and the Isu Gang each control their own turf, overstepping occasionally, rough and tough detective Ma (Dong-seok) manages to keep them in line with his bigger and badder cop attitude.
However, when a mysterious third Chinese-Korean gang calling themselves the Black Dragon – lead by a Chinese wanted gang member Gang Chen (Kye-Sang Yoon) posing as debt collectors who hit town to create an imbalance and carve out their own world – the gang and cops both are sent into a spiral. These guys are without limits, and act in the most extreme ways. What follows is not only a well-made thriller, but also one chock full of comedic one liners.
Cops versus gangs in movies isn’t exactly new. And accepting what is ‘based on real events’ to be true can be a stretch. However, brutal gang films like this and Hong Kong’s Election dive deep into these violent conflicts, and serve as great examples of what this sub-genre can achieve. While The Outlaws certainly its hard moments, it also balances it well with good humor, and keeping the film set in a fairly restricted area within Chinatown and the Serious Crimes Unit office make it easy to follow.
Fundamentally, what carries The Outlaws best though is its well-developed characters. Most impressive is Dong-seok, who is physically and mentally a huge presence. He has quick reflexes but also exhibits immense strength in unexpected ways, dealing with the tough gang members who all seem so much smaller beside him. His smart one-liners and casually violent reactions relieve the pressure in a film loaded with plenty of it.
Playing essentially opposite him is the leader of the Black Dragon gang Jang Chen. Kye-Sang deserves praise for instilling a palpable sense fear and uneasiness without a lot of dialogue, he a man of few words who speaks through but actions. His expressions reveal a real psychotic imbalance and terrific depth in his character.
The Outlaws reminds us that action thrillers can be both clever and entertaining. The outstanding cast and director Yoon-Seong Kang breathless pacing make the 2 hours fly by, leaving this another entry in South Korean cinema that hits the right highs. It’s the perfect balance of everything that’s great about going to the movies.