WFG RATING: A

A Gapsik Farm production. Directed, produced, written, and edited by Gap Sik Kim. Cinematography by Do Won Yoon.

Stars Yeong Taek Kim, Areum Byul Sim, Joong Ri Park, Gap Sik Kim, Sung Woo Hwang, Ki Seok Hwang, Daon Kim, and Yeing Rok Jung.

An ex-cop seeking redemption finds his life twisted in this homage to old school Asian crime dramas from filmmaker Gap Sik Kim.

In a time when the government has taken control of Seoul, those deemed violent were vaccinated with a medicine known as R-3. Those who do not follow the procedure will end up exiled in an area known as the “City of Dreams”. When ex-cop Young-Il is forced to exile his childhood friend and former partner Jong-Ha, he is racked with guilt as he slowly begins to learn his wife is no longer having feelings for him but is only with him out of fear she would get exiled as well.

When Young-Il receives a call from a now reclusive Jong-Ha, he is given a choice to either stay out of his way or he will make it hell for him as well. When Young-Il tries to get some information on Jong-Ha, he begins to exhibit more violent rage, a result of the vaccines wearing off. When Young-Il discovers a conspiracy that could rock Seoul like no other and Jong-Ha may in fact be connected. 

This Korean film from filmmaker Gap Sik Kim pays homage to the old school crime dramas from Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong. Taking three years to film and only using a budget of $5000, Kim created a really good 66-minute film that brings in some nice twists throughout the film. At first, it is not totally clear who Young-Il and Hong-Ja are, but there are little notions of what’s in store for them as one is an ex-cop seeking redemption and the other, an exiled friend who has become a serial killer with good reason. 

Yeong Taek Kim is great in the role of Young-Il. We see him struggling with so much as he is racked with feeling guilty over being forced to exile his childhood friend and how the guilt has forced him to be reckless and lose his job as a cop. On the other hand, we see Jong-Ha unleash his fury on random victims with one victim being seen as disemboweled. It soon delves into somewhat of a cat-and-mouse game between the two former friends that soon brings in a third party when things begin to be revealed involving the so-called vaccine that is supposed to suppress violent rage. 

The final act brings everything together and leads to a very shocking conclusion. 

Making the most of a low budget and paying homage to the crime drama with some nice twists, Nothingness is an excellent film from director Gap Sik Kim. If you like crime films, this should be under your radar.