75
Metascore
23 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 100TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonaghTV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonaghIt concludes Park's trilogy on a dual note of circular tragedy and fragile hope, while working equally well as an introduction to his universe of retribution and repentance or as a stand-alone thriller with a darkly feminist twist.
- 88New York Daily NewsJami BernardNew York Daily NewsJami BernardLess bloody than its predecessors, Lady Vengeance wraps up with a killer (literally) finale that calls into question the killer instinct. It's one of the reasons Park's brutal films are so emotionally rewarding.
- 80Film ThreatFilm ThreatA brutal mystery that's more beautifully poetic than the previous entries but still just as captivating. From opening to closing credits, every image is photographed as if it were a painting; even those involving ferocious violence are wonderful to look at.
- 75ReelViewsJames BerardinelliReelViewsJames BerardinelliLady Vengeance contains violence (some extreme), but it is not an action film. It is deliberately paced, allowing the audience to have time to reflect upon what's happening. And the comedy is of the gallows variety.
- 75The A.V. ClubTasha RobinsonThe A.V. ClubTasha RobinsonIt takes patience and industry to make sense of the first half, intestinal fortitude to deal with the second, and a little flexibility to make the transition from one to the other. But the whole process adds up to a fairly impressive two-stage thrill ride, like rafting through choppy waters, then plummeting over a waterfall into a dark and deadly pit.
- 70The Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckThe Hollywood ReporterFrank ScheckMixes comedy and melodrama to a typically baroque degree. Like his "Oldboy" and "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance," the film displays an audacious visual and narrative style, often sacrificing credibility and coherence along the way. But there is no denying its originality.
- 70VarietyDerek ElleyVarietyDerek ElleyA wildly inventive, highly cinematic director's showcase that looks likely, at least in the West, to enthuse fans of Asian -- especially Korean -- genre movies more than general auds.
- 70Village VoiceMichael AtkinsonVillage VoiceMichael AtkinsonAs much as Lady Vengeance spins around its implacable protagonist like a rabid dog on a rope, the film becomes in its last, galling act an unlikely but stunning ensemble piece.
- 63New York PostV.A. MusettoNew York PostV.A. MusettoIf you've seen either of the first two flicks in this outrageous series - "Oldboy" and "Sympathy for Mister Vengeance" - you know what's coming. Novices should prepare for mind-bending bloodshed and violence.
- A convoluted hodge-podge of time frames, subplots and bit player back stories.