The film in question is the hyper-violent, and often hyper-sexual, mystery "Oldboy," which was indeed a remake of Park Chan-Wook's 2003 shocker of the same name. If you're unfamiliar with the film, "Oldboy" tells the story of Joe, a seemingly ordinary man who's imprisoned for two decades by a mysterious tormentor for reasons unknown to him. Just as unexpected as his imprisonment is his unceremonious release, with a near-omnipotent presence pitting him on the path of vengeance.
As Joe spends the bulk of his imprisonment transforming into a lean, mean killing machine, that path gets bloody in ways you likely cannot fathom, with Brolin's ad-man turned hammer-wielding mad man brutally dispatching of an army of assailants in pursuit of the person who masterminded his incarceration. But even if Brolin's "Oldboy" pulls a few more punches than its predecessor, the action is as viscerally thrilling as it is wildly unsettling.
"Oldboy" is, however, a revenge film with more on its mind than mere violent retribution. And as Joe begins to untangle the well-knotted mystery at the center of "Oldboy" (with the help of a kindly nurse played by Elizabeth Olsen), well, let's just say things get twisted in ways that'll leave your head spinning and your skin crawling. Make no mistake, "Oldboy" is not a film for the faint of heart. But if you can withstand the shocking violence and wrenching narrative twists, you'll find "Oldboy" a stylish, propulsive thriller well worth a spot in your Netflix queue.
