Believer is a film from South Korea that was inspired by the 2012 Chinese film titled Drug War. This version was directed by Lee Hae Young and stars populars actors Cho Jin Young, Ryu Jun Yeol, Kim Joo Hyuk, and Cha Seung Won. Kim Joo Hyuk won two awards for best supporting actor for the film. He died right after filming making Believer his final role as an actor. one top of that, Believer was the first film to sell over five million tickets in 2018. Chung Seo Kyung helped Young rewrite the script for the big screen.
The police arrest a drug dealer involved in a big time drug ring. He promises to tell the police the truth about the inside operations for a deal of freedom. Then a cop and the drug dealer must go undercover to put a stop to the creation of drugs but the cop finds that the situation is more of a war than a smooth operation….
Believer comes out similar to the original while telling it's own version of the classic hit film. Events in the film feel strangely familiar but you can watch this film with an open mind. It's a very easy thing to do because the story has this quality to grip you into the characters. That's one thing that this film gets right is the quality to keep audiences wanting more. I wouldn't say that the screenplay it's self does the most to achieve this. Instead the actors are the best thing that could have happened to this film. For people who were a fan of the original, Seeing key scenes redone is less of an annoyance and more of an updated trip down memory lane. Believer hits the target if you ignore the changes Korea decided to make in order to create new content. You know what some folks say: Don't fix what's not broken. The edits don't make or break the film. There's some changes that I welcomed with open arms but it wasn't an improvement either. I probably wouldn't have liked this film so much had it not been for the acting carrying the film along. Believer is just another drugged out gangster film otherwise.
The roles each actor/actress filled was meant for them. I loved every moment of the dialogue and how the cast new how to change the tide of the story simply using their acting to set each scene. Things could go from action packed to dramatic in the span of the same scene. Believer has enough action for the action lovers but there's also a lot of lines containing suspense in what's being said.
I really enjoyed looking at the cinematography that sets certain scenes. Especially the above shots that show the whole stretch of land like the snowy landscape that opens and closes the film. This film is shot beautifully using outdoor scenery. Drug War didn't have this quality.
Believer isn't a film you have to run and see. Johnny To's Drug War is a must see though. Check out this film to see Kim Joo Hyuk in his final role before his death. His performance is a must see.
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