I, the Executioner: reviews

What the critics say average 7.4 from 13 outlets

• 8.5 But Why Tho?Kate Sánchez I The Executioner may be a sequel, but the truth is that it’s so much more than that. It exists nearly perfectly on its own. (...) Jung Hae-in and Hwang Jung-min are an action duo I would keep paying to see time and time again. Read
• 8.0 Film ThreatAlan Ng What I found most interesting about Veteran 2: I, Executioner is its themes of vigilante justice and how it can sway public opinion. (...) In the end, Veteran 2: I, Executioner is a fast movie crime thriller that keeps you engaged and on the edge of your seat until the end. Read
• 8.0 South China Morning PostClarence Tsui Upping the stakes from the first instalment in nearly every department, I, the Executioner is a crowd-pleasing juggernaut that warns against the perils of populism, takes violence to task – and takes viewers on a white-knuckle roller coaster ride.
• 8.0 That ShelfVictor Stiff On the surface, I, the Executioner looks like another broad action comedy, but it uses its heavier subject matter to mine new emotional and thematic depths. (...) If you’re a fan of Korean cinema, I can’t recommend I, the Executioner enough. Read
• 8.0 CinapseEd Travis I, The Executioner feels like somewhat of a warm cinematic blanket for fans of South Korean crime/action films as it almost perfects the formula that so many similar films have laid out. Read
• 8.0 NYC Movie GuruAvi Offer I, the Executioner, a sequel of Veteran, becomes increasingly complex without being too convoluted or confusing. (...) At 1 hour and 58 minutes, I, the Executioner is an electrifying, intriguing and riveting crime thriller. Read
• 7.5 Roger EbertBrian Tallerico Ryoo hasn’t made a simple cautionary tale about online justice—he’s crafted a film that’s wildly entertaining but also has a great deal on its mind about how far we should be willing to go to balance the scales. Read
• 7.5 Screen DailyTim Grierson But on the whole, this instalment is a confident step up from the original. I, The Executioner may have more on its mind, but not to the detriment of the bone-crushing escapism that defined the first chapter. Read
• 7.0 Next Best PictureMax Borg What it lacks in terms of character study, it makes up for in being a very kinetic experience, the ideal treat for the midnight crowds that will undoubtedly embrace it on the festival circuit after the bombastic Cannes premiere. Read
• 7.0 VarietySiddhant Adlakha “I, the Executioner,” Ryoo Seung-wan‘s sequel to his 2015 action-comedy “Veteran,” scales back on its predecessor’s laughs in order to focus more closely on — as well as to examine — the violence of its police protagonists. Although undoubtedly entertaining, Ryoo’s follow-up is also highly introspective, weaving a serial killer mystery that makes for a surprising mirror to the series’ lead. Read
• 7.0 The Chinese CinemaSean Gilman Hwang’s performance is a bit more subdued this time around (but then again aren’t we all after the last decade?), while the action is less fun and more brutal. (...) This shift in tone is entirely appropriate of course. I, the Executioner feels very much like a work or self-examination, if not self-accusation. Read
• 6.0 The Straits TimesWhang Yee Ling This is a dynamic if ultimately formulaic movie (...) A seam of social commentary adds to a satisfying action-packed cop drama. Read
• 6.0 Screen ZealotsLouisa Moore Director Ryoo Seung-wan’s “I, The Executioner” emerges as a gripping yet uneven detective thriller that attempts to balance high-octane action with a nuanced critique of vigilantism and the corrosive effects of social media. (...) At least “I, The Executioner” does enough to stand on its own as a solid action thriller. Read