When is it Time to Hang Up the Knife? A Look at “The Old Woman With a Knife”
At what age should a contract killer consider retirement? And what if that killer is a woman? The protagonist of “The Old Woman With a Knife” (Lee Hye-young) is an elderly lady who hasn’t even considered ending the career that made her a legend in certain shady circles. This unique profession is all she has in life. Besides, it’s not easy to admit that a body once capable of any feat and overcoming any obstacle is starting to fail. That even the strongest and most resilient may need help at some point. However, she will have to face the past decades when a promising young killer (Kim Sung-chul) appears on the doorstep of the secret organization of assassins.
Lee Hye-young as Hornclaw in a still from “The Old Woman With a Knife”
“The Old Woman With a Knife” is an adaptation of the best-selling novel by South Korean writer Gu Byeong-mo, which was only translated into English in 2022 – 10 years after its publication. And in 2025, the film is already part of the special program of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival. Director Min Gyu-dong invited Lee Hye-young to play the main role – an actress who gained popularity in the 1980s and is now known to modern European audiences for her work with Hong Sang-soo. It is not surprising that with such a combination of circumstances, even a typical action movie is expected to be something special.
A Familiar Tale with a Twist
The story of an aging professional is a fairly popular plot, which has honestly won its place on the list of modern viewer’s favorites. Especially when it comes to traditionally masculine genres. Without thinking too hard, one can quickly recall several films of this type, from the rather unnoticed “Hitman: Agent 47” to the once-sensational “The Expendables.” Films in which men who have crossed the threshold of maturity prove to the viewer for a couple of hours that they are still worth something. And “The Old Woman With a Knife” becomes one of the few films that stand out against their testosterone-filled background. After all, the role of the tired avenger is given to a woman.
The film crew at the Berlin Film Festival
It cannot be said that gender is of fundamental importance: in the universe of “The Old Woman With a Knife,” much more attention is paid to the problems of ageism than to possible injustice towards women. And yet, the difference between the usual image of an aging action hero and Hornclaw (that’s the nickname of the old woman killer) is visible in the details. In the habit of relying on dexterity and intelligence where a man would rather bet on physical strength. And this approach allows Min Gyu-dong to bring interesting ingenuity to the action-packed fight scenes, even if it does not save the heroine from injuries and wounds. The director makes it clear to the viewer that it takes effort to maintain fading strength: scenes of Hornclaw’s daily runs give the film the necessary tone of realism. It is not the protagonist’s plot armor that allows the heroine to maintain her skills at the necessary level, but her assertiveness and awareness of her weaknesses.
Flashbacks That Cut Too Deep
“The Old Woman With a Knife” begins with a scene about the heroine’s past – the first in a series of many other monotonous flashbacks. Flashbacks designed not only to demonstrate the heroine’s vulnerability but also becoming an Achilles’ heel for the film itself. Knocking down the set pace, scenes about young Hornclaw and her life path bit by bit give out information and try to explain the situation, but in reality, they only confuse the viewer more. The plot is divided into two parallel dramas that do not find a logical unity in the finale. It is especially обидно that such an active emphasis on flashbacks ultimately does not contribute to the disclosure of Hornclaw’s story. She seems to remain unfinished – several raggedly demonstrated scenes from the past do not build into a harmonious lead-in for the narrative in the present.
A Familiar Recipe, Served with a Korean Twist
The recipe for the film is quite simple: add a little oriental melancholy, more bloody scenes, and frame it with edification. What in the literary source was appropriately seasoned with reflections on eternal themes of good and evil, in the film takes on rather crude forms. For example, the organization of contract killers, which includes Hornclaw, adheres to the noble metaphorical goal of “destroying pests” – with these words, the mentor offers to embark on the path of a killer. The woman herself, succumbing to the call of a heart that has melted with age, tames an old dog, like herself. The heroine goes through a well-known path, leading to a well-known finale for any superhero. However, South Korean action films have one successful feature – the ability to paint even the most fantastic plot in dark tones of realism. Where there is no need to worry about a Hollywood hero, you want to sincerely empathize with Hornclaw. “The Old Woman With a Knife” is a film far from perfect. But undoubtedly belonging to the list of films that will bring pleasure to its viewer.