Mantis Review: A Well-Acted and Thrilling Venture That Falls Short of Expectations

Mantis Review: The secret society of contract killers falls into chaos when Han-ul and Jae-yi cause mayhem with their personal issues. With old rules no longer valid, who will step in to lead the pack?

The Korean action thriller film has a runtime of 113 minutes and exists in the same universe as the 2023 film Kill Boksoon.

Mantis Review

In this Netflix action thriller film, punches and heartbreaks are galore as two young assassins want to break out of the rules imposed by their seniors and make a name for themselves. As if competitions didn’t destroy enough friendships, this film reminds us that even assassins can be extremely jealous of one another. But, then again, with you having a scythe and murderous intent, that’s probably a bit of a given.

The film is extremely enjoyable from start to end. Im Si-wan and Park Gyu-young are fantastic in the film, but they are usually fantastic in everything they appear in, so I am not very surprised. The emotions that go through their faces make you take notice, and more often than not, I found myself shipping these two killers. It’s an odd feeling to want romance in an assassin show, but their chemistry and shared history are shown so well that you can’t help but be swept up in the craze.

Plus, another thing working in favour of the film is how smooth the action is. All the principal characters do a fantastic job of showcasing these moments with utmost perfection. Whether it be with or without weapons, the actors do a good job of making them look realistic and, as a result, engaging. There are a ton of those, and you will be left on edge throughout.

That being said, I found the story to be quite clichéd. The basic premise is obvious and uninteresting, having watched a variation of it far too many times in these types of films. I think the conflict between the two characters is interesting, but from a broader perspective, it doesn’t do anything unique and sometimes feels a bit unfinished. Moreover, I felt that it was an extension of the Booksoon film instead of being a story of its own, which made it seem unfinished in the end. I also found it hard to follow the flow of the film, and the timelines were just a little confusing to follow sometimes.

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Other than that, I thought the series looked fantastic, and there were quite a few humorous moments as well. I wished there were some more playful moments between Han-ul and Jae-yi to solidify their relationship and make it seem like it was more than a competition thing. I had a few more questions that went unanswered, but, oh well, it is what it is. Oh, and if you’re a fan of Kill Boksoon, prepare to see a few guest appearances that will put a smile on your face!

Final Thoughts

In the end, Mantis is enjoyable and entertaining if you need a light-hearted action film without digging too deep. There are a few funny moments and some great action sequences. But, storywise, I think it could’ve been better.

Also Read: Mantis Ending Explained: What Happens to Jae-yi and Han-ul? Is Dok-go Killed? Who Takes Over MK?