10/07/2025
🎬 Movie Review: Ballerina (2023)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4/5 stars)
Genre: Action, Revenge Thriller
Director: Lee Chung-hyun
Starring: Jeon Jong-seo, Kim Ji-hoon, Park Yu-rim
Review:
Ballerina is a stylish, emotionally-fueled revenge thriller that blends neon-drenched visuals with cold-blooded vengeance. Directed by Lee Chung-hyun (The Call), the film follows Ok-ju (Jeon Jong-seo), a former bodyguard who sets out to avenge the death of her best friend Min-hee, a ballet dancer, after discovering the horrific truth behind her su***de.
Jeon Jong-seo delivers a fierce, mesmerizing performance, portraying a woman haunted by guilt and driven by loyalty. Her quiet intensity commands every scene, while the choreography of the fight sequences—gritty, grounded, and often beautifully framed—adds a poetic brutality that lives up to the film's title.
The film leans heavily on style, with moody lighting, pulsating synth music, and minimalist dialogue that recall Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive and John Wick with a Korean noir twist. The pacing dips at moments, and some characters feel underdeveloped, but the emotional payoff and visual flair keep it engaging.
Verdict:
Ballerina isn't just another revenge film—it's a haunting, high-contrast ballet of bullets and heartbreak. A must-watch for fans of stylized action with a personal, painful edge.
