Kkeut-kka-ji-gan-da 2014

Maggie Lee, Variety: A South Korean police thriller that finds helmer-scribe Kim Seong-hung handling a taut yet elaborately plotted narrative with poise, control and near-faultless technical execution. Read more

Stephen Dalton, Hollywood Reporter: Kim Seong-hun's A Hard Day offers a masterclass in throat-squeezing, stomach-knotting suspense. Read more

Manohla Dargis, New York Times: A kinetically visceral, enjoyable nasty joy ride, "A Hard Day" is pretty much as advertised. Read more

Soren Anderson, Seattle Times: It's hard to feel sympathy for such a miserable miscreant. Impossible, in fact. Read more

Linda Barnard, Toronto Star: Director Kim turns the screw relentlessly, working old-school devices like ringing phones to excellent effect while tossing in some inspired fight and chase scenes. Read more

Sam Weisberg, Village Voice: In a very frenetic two hours, Kim demonstrates every conceivable way in which one grown man can injure another. Read more

David Edelstein, New York Magazine/Vulture: When was the last time you saw a modern thriller with so much narrative and visual wit that you were simultaneously laughing and crying out in fear - the kind the Coen brothers often make and Spielberg when he's in a Hitchcockian mood? Read more

Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: You'll be glad that "A Hard Day" isn't happening to you, but you won't regret observing it all from a safe distance. Read more