REVIEW: ‘A Shop For Killers’ Takes No Prisoners

Hulu continues to add more their K drama to their selection, and their latest one is an action-thriller with designs to keep viewers on their toes. Starring Kim Hye-jun (Connect, Kingdom) as Jian and Lee Dong-Wook (Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, Tale of the Nine-Tailed) as Jinman, Jian’s mysterious uncle, A Shop For Killers (Killeodeul-ui syopingmol) is based on the popular original novel by Kang Jiyoung, written by Ji Hojin and Lee Kwon, and directed by Lee Kwon. Consisting of eight episodes, you’ll never know what’s going to happen next.

A Shop For Killers immediately throws the audience into the action. Jiong Jian dives for cover to avoid sniper bullets flying her way. The mystery immediately settles in when she flips over a couch, revealing a semiautomatic weapon. Just as we get ready for an epic showdown, the writers fling us back to the past. This becomes a pattern in A Shop For Killers, where we go backward and forward in time to gain answers that catch us up with Jian. She is working to survive while also uncovering the mystery surrounding her uncle’s business. Her survival relies on it, but there are many obstacles for her to contend with.

The mystery of A Shop For Killers is fascinating, with Jinman at the center of it. Lee Dong-Wook’s naturally enigmatic presence onscreen works well in his role as Jinman. His face is nearly unreadable, but some nuances allow us glimpses into his mind. Kim Hye-jun’s Jian is the polar opposite of Jinman. She’s naive, caring, vicious, and intelligent, with room for growth as she gains experience. Her tragic past links with Jinman, so does his best to set Jian up for success before his apparent suicide.

While Lee Dong-Wook and Kim Hye-jun are the main focus in A Shop For Killers, the supporting cast does wonders to up the stakes. Park Ji-Bin‘s Bae Jeong-Min starts innocent but shows hidden layers that will surprise and shock the viewer. Seo Hyun-Woo‘s Lee Seong-jo presents fitting comedic relief amidst the seriousness. Don’t let the comedy fool you, though. Seong-jo is a cold-hearted killer. The real standout, however, is Geum Hae-Na’s So Min-hye. Whether kicking butt or knocking on someone’s door, she commands the screen without a word.

Action takes center stage in A Shop For Killers.

For a show about killers, the action doesn’t disappoint. From drones to slingshots to makeshift traps to shootouts, the action sequences will make hearts race. They are slick and tight, the movement frenetic and quick to depict the skill level of the killers onscreen. What makes the action more exciting is the experimentation with the camera. Whether depicting the drone’s perception, a tech dog’s heat vision, or how killers operate in pitch-black darkness, there are risks taken with the cinematography that pay off.

Where the show stumbles is in its trips back to the past. The jumps back and forth impact the pacing of the series, with some visits proving more redundant than others. It becomes most noticeable when the perspective switches back to Jinmin in Episodes 6 and 7. Episode 7, in particular, reads as re-treading familiar ground. While it fleshes out Jinmin’s perspective, with such a limited episode order, the deja vu experience may not be well-received by all viewers. Especially considering how long the episodes are.

There’s also the issue of the big bad villain, Bale (Jo Han-sun). As the orchestrator, or at least face of the operation targeting Jian, he’s a bit underwhelming. The cold-bloodedness that Bale exudes doesn’t read on-screen. And neither does the performance support why men like Seong-jo chose to align themselves with Bale. Babylon, the organization revealed to be assisting him, has great potential to be the more terrifying villain but plays second fiddle to Bale.

A Shop For Killers does end with a slight cliffhanger. It opens up the series to the possibility of a second season. But if they chose to end it here, at least there is an ending of sorts. With that said, there are questions left unanswered and mysteries still left to be solved. For viewers who prefer tighter endings, this will likely leave you frustrated and wanting more.

A Shop For Killers is action-packed, featuring characters that will sway you, piss you off, and lure you in. Lee Dong-Wook and Kim Hye-jun are the heart of the series, with a supporting cast that takes no survivors.

A Shop for Killers is streaming now exclusively on Disney+ and Hulu.