no mercy

Trailer: Indonesian Action Makes Its Comeback With NO MERCY In 2023!

The past several months saw some promotional footage revealed for No Mercy (a.k.a. Tanpa Ampun), a new crime thriller out of Indonesia from writer/director M. Yusuf. Yusuf is most notably known for directing horror features which makes this latest effort his coming-out party in the action arena, and rewardingly with a cast that features actor/martial artist Verdy Bhanwanta. Bhawanta has only a handful of screen credits to his name. He first came onto our radar starring in Asun Mawardi’s feature martial arts crime thriller, Mortal Enemies (a.k.a. Pirate Brothers) with actor Robin Shou, and also showcased his screen fighting prowess in Awi Suryadi’s nascent proof-of-concepts, YCHMYCSM and Unleashed. He also appeared in a few more local projects since then and now makes his return to a leading role for the first time in years, which effectively puts him on a bigger playing field nowadays, with GFM Film Sales handling world […]

Fantasia Review: Dark, Action-Packed NO MERCY Toils In Pulse-Pounding Vengeance With Sobering Results

Lee B. Golden III

Trigger Warning: This review discusses rape, bullying and sexual abuse. Actress Li Si-Young’s latest exposure to Western audiences now lies in Lim Kyoung-Tack’s feature debut, No Mercy, a film that instantly drew my attention last December even as it underwent its former title, “Older Sister”. To be frank, I’m actually keen on the film being titled “Sister”, as opposed to its current title in order to appeal more commercially to consumers – I get the reason for the change though there’s nothing major to complain about here. What does matter is how the film sells itself from start to finish. We cut to a prelude of our heroine already behind the wheel of a car as she speeds to her next destination before confronting a mechanic, bareing the very image we see on the film’s official poster – the red dress, red heels and dragging a boss-level sledgehammer which she […]

FESTIVE FILM BITS: Kung Fu Classics In The Big Apple, Lee Si-Young To Show NO MERCY At Brussels, And More!

Lee B. Golden III

Currently playing at The Metrograph in NYC is King Hu’s 1973 wuxia classic, The Fate Of Lee Khan which will run through Thursday, April 11, hosted in 2D restoration courtesy of Film Movement who will then roll out a Blu-Ray release in July. (h/tCity On Fire) One of the ultimate achievements of King Hu, the foremost genius of the high- flying, sword-swinging wuxia—or “martial heroes”—film. Following the model of his Dragon Inn, Hu again centers the action at a roadside respite, this one a veritable hot pot of simmering conflict, where girl-gang undercover resistance fighters are pitted against oppressive Mongols, as the Chinese underground tries to stop a traitor from passing vital information to warlord Lee Khan. The ensuing struggle is highlighted by wry comic moments, masterful mise-en-scene, and breakout fight scenes from choreographer Sammo Hung, who has a bevy of deadly female stars leading the charge, including Hong Kong […]