Mikes Film Talk

Director and co-writer Lee Tae-sung presents the 2025 sequel to Kill Boksoon; Mantis. It’s all “new kids on the block” this time around. The youthful assassin is mentioned numerous times in Kill Boksoon. He is, apparently, on holiday, aka: vacation in the first film. In this film, he comes back from his hols to learn that Cha Min-gyoo is dead. *Tae-sung shares writing credit with Byun Sung-hyun; writer/director of the first film in the “collection.”*

Mantis Story

Mantis, the assassin at the top of the MK food chain, comes back from his hols. He also meets up with his old training friend Jae-yi. He also comes across the retired legendary killer Dok-go who now runs the old company.

The Mantis Cast

Yim Si-wan is Han-ul, aka; Mantis.

Park Gyuyoung is Jae-yi.

Jo Woo-jin is Dok-go.

Choi Hyun-wook is Benjamin.

Jeon Bae-soo is Bae Su.

Jeon Do-yeon is Gil Bok-sun.

Bae Gang-hee is Su Min.

Sul Kyung-gu is Cha Min Gyu.

Let’s Talk Mantis

This sequel is, like the first film, about the action and relationships. There have been charges levied that is all about romance. Is it? Yes and no. This is more about matters of the heart threatening a relationship built on mutual respect and admiration of differing skill sets. Jae-yi has a harder edge to her prowess as an assassin than Mantis.

The two, while in training, form an unlikely alliance but are pitted against each other by those in charge. Han-ul, Mantis, gets the nod but Dok-go believes that Jae-yi to be the stronger fighter/killer.

Not unlike Kill Boksoon, the fight sequences rule. There is a lot, however, going on in this follow-on film. We see organisation MK has splintered after the big boss Cha Min Gyu is killed by Gil Bok-sun. Dok-go now runs MK. Han-ul and Jae-yi put together their own assassination company.

Soon, the old friends are at odds as they challenge their abilities and their experience levels. The relationship between the two is not too dissimilar to that of Min Gyu and Bok Sun. They have a connection that goes beyond their job titles.

It Works

The film has a new player enter the arena. Not as a killer but as a techie who wants to start his own version of MK. He talks Jae-yi into leaving Mantis’ organisation. The two end up competing instead of working side by side.

There are no “crowd” fight scenes, however, the few fights on offer are impressive. The wire work is spot on and the two protagonists flesh out relationship in a variety of ways.

The Verdict

Mantis falls just short of a perfect score, It earns a solid 4.5 stars out of 5. It loses that half star because it is a tad jagged round the edges. Unlike Kill Boksoon, I was never over enamoured of any one character. I did not root for either Han-ul or Jae-yi. This film is also on Netflix and as I mention in the review of the first in the collection, it needs to be watched after watching Kill Boksoon.

The ending rather satisfying. Go check both these films out and see what you think. Like Kill Boksoon, it can be watched in the original Korean with subtitles or with an English dub.

The Trailer