Film Review - The Roundup: Punishment (2024)

The hit South Korean action series is back with its latest instalment The Roundup: Punishment. This series has been on my radar for a long time but due to a lack of viewing options in the UK being able to get a hold of the series has been slightly impossible until recently, with the last 2 instalments being brought to UK cinemas thanks to K-Movie Entertainment.

The film follows Detective Ma Seok-do as he investigates a murder linked to an online gambling business run by the mercenary Baek and IT genius Chang. The plot is simple, but it does not need to be overly complex. What I feel is the biggest strength of the film is how approachable it is. While technically the 4th installment in this franchise, I do not feel like there is a massive barrier to entry when it comes to this film. While you may not be fully in the loop with some character dynamics by the 20-minute mark, you are caught up to speed and fully invested.

What allowed me to get so invested, though, was the acting. Don Lee as Detective Ma Seok-do just has a level of charm and charisma that is unparalleled. He gives his all when it comes to comedy, drama, and especially action. In conjunction with Don Lee’s performance, we have Kim Mu-yeol as Baek. His performance is cold and calculated, and every time he is on screen, the tension levels increase to a boiling point. As the film’s main villain, he is just perfect.

Let’s talk about the action, from the first impact to the final blow at the end. Every action scene is just a feast for the eyes. While the cinematography is anything but flashy, it also captures every punch, kick, and knife stab perfectly so that every action scene is easy to follow and gripping. While I wish there were more creative camera choices, I would rather have simple and clear action than creative and messy action.

In a twist I never saw coming, the biggest surprise was how funny this film was. While that card should have never been off the table when heading into this film, I was just shocked by how many times I was laughing out loud. Especially as the film can get dark tonally at times, which is apparent right from the get-go, but somehow the tonal shifts mesh well together.

Everything combined allows The Roundup: Punishment to be a great time. It is up there as one of my favourite films of the year so far, and I feel this is a film that anyone can enjoy. It is worth seeing on the big screen with popcorn in hand.