Yim Si-wan. Photo: Plum A&C, courtesy of Han Cinema.
Yim Si-wan’s Mantis has released its first teaser, featuring high-voltage action reminiscent of Kill Boksoon (2023), of which Mantis is a spin-off.
The highly anticipated Netflix original movie depicts the underworld of the assassin industry, starring complex characters with Yim Si-wan playing the titular Mantis, and a gory, gripping storyline.
Mantis is an elite assassin who returns to the industry after a hiatus, only to find himself entangled in a deadly power struggle. Played by Yim Si-wan, known for his portrayals in films like The Attorney (2013), Emergency Declaration (2022), Unlocked (2023), and Road to Boston (2023), Mantis has a penchant for striking out on his own in the contract killing industry. In the course of events, he finds himself at odds with his former colleague, Jae-yi, played by Park Gyu-young, a skilled and lethal operative with a troubled past and a score to settle.
The film’s cast is rounded out by Jo Woo-jin as Dok-go, a veteran assassin and co-founder of the contract killing syndicate MK Enterprise, who comes back from retirement to reclaim his former glory after the death of Cha Min-Kyu (Sul Kyung-gu), the company’s head. Dok-go, who once mentored Mantis, now wants to reel him back into the fold. As Dok-go embarks on his mission, he must confront his legacy, all while trying to manipulate Mantis to further his own ambitions, while the latter seeks to fulfill his own.
Directed by Lee Tae-sung and written by Byun Sung-hyun, one of the most intriguing aspects of Mantis is its connection to the Kill Boksoon universe. The film expands on the concept of the original, which follows a single mother, Gil Boksoon (Jeon Do-yeon), a top contract killer working for M.K. Entertainment. Mantis introduces new characters and plotlines while building upon the MK Enterprise universe, offering the same services as before but with new rules and dynamics.
The teaser for Mantis offers a glimpse into the film’s intense action sequences—brutal punches, fierce sword fights, and a deadly game between the leads—highlighting “a new generation of rising killers.” With its stellar cast, gripping storyline, and cinematic expertise, Mantis appears to be a breathless thrill ride where ruling is the ultimate goal. If you’re a fan of action crime drama, Mantis is definitely up your alley. The movie will premiere on Netflix on September 26.
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