Mantis (2025) – Shadowy Assassin Intrigue with Unrequited Edge
Hello, movie lovers! In this blog post I am shifting to sleek Seoul shadows and reviewing Mantis (2025), Lee Tae-sung's feature debut—a Netflix spin-off in the Kill Boksoon universe. Starring Yim Si-wan as the titular ace killer, Park Gyu-young as his ambitious trainee, and Jo Woo-jin as a grizzled legend, this action thriller plunges into a fracturing contract-killer syndicate. It's got stylish hits and human heart, but a meandering start, earning a 6/10 from me—solid once-watch for K-drama assassin fans. Let's stalk the streets.
Mantis (2025) - Chaos in the Killer Corps
Mantis dives headfirst into a clandestine world of elite assassins, where rules crumble and new blood rises, blending John Wick's balletic brutality with Kill Boksoon's corporate underbelly. The action pops in the back half—fluid gun-fu, cleanup calls, and high-stakes hits that glue you to the screen—but the opening 30-40 minutes wander like a foggy stakeout, teasing the syndicate's turmoil without a clear target. Once it sharpens, the entertainment surges: entertaining set pieces amid emotional undercurrents, from unrequited longing to mentorship meltdowns. It's deeper than it seems—probing love's lopsided pull, master-apprentice rifts, and scrappy startups challenging assassin empires (a sly nod to any cutthroat industry). Korean cinema buffs will savor the sleek style and themes, but it skews young: a YA-ish vibe in the romance and rivalries, with a cast that screams Gen Z energy. Fun for the genre, forgettable beyond.
The Plot: Hiatus to Havoc in the Hitman Hierarchy
Han-ul (Yim Si-wan), aka Mantis—an elite operative on hiatus—returns to the fold after learning MK Enterprise boss Cha Min-kyu (Sol Kyung-gu) has been assassinated, plunging the shadowy contract-killer network into anarchy. Old codes shatter as rookies swarm and veterans like retired legend Dok-go (Jo Woo-jin) reclaim the throne, forcing Mantis to navigate alliances with his sharp-shooting trainee Jae-yi (Park Gyu-young). What starts as a routine job spirals: betrayals expose a power vacuum, with Mantis torn between loyalty to Jae-yi (whom he quietly pines for, even tanking fights to boost her) and clashing with Dok-go's iron-fisted revival. Amid cleanup crews and corporate espionage in the assassin biz, subplots simmer—Jae-yi's career climb blinds her to his devotion, mentorships fracture under ego, and young guns hustle against entrenched titans. No spoilers, but the finale's shadow claim ties back to Kill Boksoon's lore, questioning if love or legacy claims the night.
Performances That Stalk the Spotlight
Yim Si-wan commands as Mantis—cool precision masking quiet heartbreak, his subtle sacrifices for Jae-yi adding soul to the stoic killer. Park Gyu-young crackles as the driven Jae-yi, her ambition a double-edged blade that blinds her to his gaze, blending vulnerability with venom. Jo Woo-jin looms large as Dok-go, a paternal tyrant whose gravelly gravitas fuels the mentor clashes, while cameos from Jeon Do-yeon and Sol Kyung-gu nod to Boksoon ties. The young ensemble fits the vibe—energetic, earnest—but elevates the emotional beats amid the blasts.
A Spin-Off That Stabs at Syndicate Succession
As a Kill Boksoon extension, Mantis inherits that film's glossy grit and female-led edge (Jae-yi's rise echoes Boksoon's), but dials up the ensemble intrigue for a fresher frenzy. Lee Tae-sung's debut channels Park Chan-wook's vengeance poetry with less flair, focusing on emotional fissures in the hitman hustle—unrequited pining as poignant as any plot twist, startup struggles mirroring real-world scrambles. It's lighter than its predecessor, trading maternal might for youthful yearning, but the assassin industry's "business" satire lands sharp.
Ratings and Critical Reception
Mantis holds a middling 5.3/10 on IMDb (from around 2,000 ratings), with viewers split on the "stylish but scattered" pacing and "thin emotional payoff." No Rotten Tomatoes score yet—too fresh off its September 26 Netflix drop for critics to coalesce. Early buzz from K-thriller circles praises the action highs and thematic chew, but echoes my take: entertaining for fans, uneven for outsiders. Global streams hit 15 million hours in week one, a win for the genre.
A Minor Critique
The YA lean—romantic longing dialed up like a teen drama, with a cast that skews too fresh-faced for the hardened hitmen—sometimes undercuts the grit, making the stakes feel more soap than slaughter.
A Stylish Stab for Assassin Aficionados
Mantis (2025) weaves a web of killer chaos with Wick-worthy fights and heartfelt hooks—unrequited love, mentor mayhem, and industry underdogs adding depth to the dashes. Yim, Park, and Jo deliver in the shadows, making it a binge-worthy branch of the Boksoon tree. At 6/10, it's good for one shadowy spin; K-movie or hitman enthusiasts will savor more. Skip if you crave tighter tales.
What did you think of Mantis? Did the unrequited assassin angst hit, or did the YA vibes miss? Drop your thoughts in the comments, and suggest a film for my next review—more K-thrillers or global grit? If you enjoyed this, like, follow, and share to keep the hits coming. Thanks for reading—see you at the movies!
