FANTASIA FEST 2022: ‘The Roundup’ is a Showstopper

The Roundup is directed by Sang-yong Lee and written by Ma Dong-seok, Kim Min-seong, and Lee Sang-yong. Equal parts buddy-cop action and thriller, this action film just may be one of the bests of the year, not just from South Korea, but in general. Screening at the 26th Fantasia International Film Festival, the film stars Ma Dong-seok,  Choi Gwi-hwa, and Sukku Son.

Detective Ma Seok-do is a legend. Known for his brute strength and his ability to find out anything from anyone, with a little force if necessary. In this sequel to The Outlaws (though you can watch it without having seen the first installment), Detective Ma is in Vietnam on vacation when a Korean ex-pat gangster turns himself into the South Korean embassy. What was said to be a “pang of guilt” winds up being a last-ditch effort to not die at the hands of a brutal Korean gangster, Kang Hae-sang, who is making a name for himself targeting Korean tourists in Ho Chi Minh City. In true Ma fashion, we find ourselves on a suspenseful case that leads our hero to punch his way through informants with Captain Jung at his side to get to the bottom of the crimes and stop Kang.

Ma Dong-seok is both naturally intimidating and naturally funny. He carries himself with charisma in every scene that is heightened by how his character controls situations and the respect (or fear) the people he interacts with show him. He is a force in action sequences, humorous with physical comedy, and entirely endearing across both. As a buddy-cop thriller, The Roundup absolutely hits the mark and a lot of that has to do with actor Ma’s ability to lead a film.

Not to be upstaged though, Kang Hae-sang (Sukku Son) is a villain with grit that holds his own against Detective Mad and despite his smaller stature absolutely decimates rooms full of men in one go. Additionally, his cold demeanor and absolute irreverence to everyone make Kang a stellar villain and opponent for Detective Ma. Ruthless and focused, Kang is an equal and opposite reaction to Detective Ma and that alone makes for a steady-paced and intriguing story.

While the characters themselves are superb, it’s director Lee’s eye for filming fight sequences and the editing that makes this action film rise to the top. When it comes to fight choreography, it’s clear that every scene, small and large, was thought out, not only capturing the actors performing the stunts but to use the space effectively. In every fight sequence, the environment becomes just as important as the punches being thrown. Whether in an elevator, a van, a house, and everywhere else the blood gets pumping, it all works with no hit obscured. Additionally, the variance of fighting styles, particularly between Kang and Ma makes every action sequence feel dynamic and intriguing beyond just people getting named or killed.

In The Roundup, audiences get a well-rounded film that goes hard on the action and somehow effortlessly executes comedic moments even in and around brutal fight moments. To find humor in the grit of a crime thriller is no small feat but through physical gags and snarky dialogue, this film manages to strike a balance that never feels out of place.

The Roundup is a stellar action film that reminds me of the fun that can be had while watching a cop track down a criminal. While I’m not the largest fan of police stories, here, it all works. Actor Ma’s charisma as Detective Ma when coupled with a well-paced man-hunt and even better-paced action sequence, is showstopping.

The Roundup screened at the 26th Fantasia International Film Festival 2022 and is available to stream now on Prime Video.