I reckon calling it Paradise ... well there may be a bit of irony or sarcasm in that phrase. I do not know what the original title means translated, so I only know the english title of it. Still sort of fitting if you think about it. But in a broader sense and with a sense of ... well smirk/humor.

The movie has quite some interesting action scenes ... scenes you almost only see in Korean cinema. There may be a few hiccups and maybe you do not like where the story goes or how it resolves in the end ... but it makes for some interesting story ... and for some amazing action/stunt scenes.

There are interesting character traits and you may like them or not - but overall quite well done. I'm glad I could dive into some Korean cinema lately. I missed that ... this was one of those movies - and as you can see I really liked it. It is not too original or new in what it conveys or is telling - but it does so with a lot of quality. If you are not too squeamish that is.

I'd heard NIGHT IN PARADISE was a real slow-burner so imagine my surprise to find that it's a normally-paced and quite engrossing Korean drama with plenty of thriller ingredients. Our protagonist is a gangster sent to hide out on Jeju island after committing a violent act. While there he becomes involved with a girl hiding a dark secret, but his own background soon comes after him leading to a confrontation of sorts. Koreans are always good at blending multiple genres and so they do so here. The characterisation is as in-depth and engrossing as the more familiar and cinematic gangster elements of the story. The action comes in brief bursts and is well handled, as violent as you'd expect from Korean cinema, but the real shocking stand-out is the extended climax which goes into some very brutal territory. A darker-than-dark and memorable production.

Surprisingly watchable this gangster movie is above the usual standard. I had become disappointed by the genre where the movies were full of angst and depressing and the action felt meaningless. This movie is a notch above. You get drawn in to the characters and I like the 2 leading characters. They were both damaged people - a gangster on the run and a terminally ill gangster's niece. Atmospheric cinematography on Jeju.

Uhm Tae Goo is convincing and realistic not a super hero. Jeon Yeo Bin is likeable here. I found her annoying in Vincenzo because of the failed attempt at comedy. But here you are on her side and she doesn't overact.

The fight and chase sequences are well directed - clear and exciting. The car chase and escape are tense. The fight in the farm is brutal. Surprisingly even though it may seem a downer that the hero dies first and why did he go there to get killed but wait there is a big shoot out that makes you feel okay about things. A happy ending isn't in the cards but it's acceptable.

Be warned there is a lot of violence and shooting and stabbing but it is not sickening or gratuitous somehow.

I don't really enjoy violent gangster movies but this good for what it is.