A new Korean action-thriller arrives this week with The Old Woman and the Knife, which puts a fresh spin on the “aging badass” genre trope.
The Old Woman With the Knife
Directed By: Min Kyu-dong
Written By: Kim Dong-wan and Min Kyu-dong
Starring: Lee Hye-young, Shin Si-ah, Kim Sung-cheol, Yeon Woo-jin
Release Date: May 16, 2025 (North America)
The older assassin/legendary badass character fighting through new challenges, proving why they’re still the best has become a genre all on its own these days. While the seeds of it can be found all the way back in older action flicks from the 80s and 90s, films like Taken, John Wick, The Equalizer, Nobody, and the more recent Love Hurts have made it clear the genre is here to stay.
When I saw the trailer, and synopsis, for The Old Woman With the Knife, I figured this would be just another entry into these kind of films. The basics are relatively straightforward: a legendary assassin part of a secret organization finds herself dealing with a dangerously reckless new killer. As age begins to catch up with her and things from the past begin to rear their head she’ll have to prove she’s still the baddest around.
Sounds familiar, right? And I’m a big ‘ol sucker for these movies, so I was more than happy to dive right in. I was quickly surprised, however, at how differently this film approaches some familiar cliches.
Take the place Hornclaw (Lee Hye-young) works for, for example. It’s an established—though obviously hidden from mainstream society—business that deals in contract killing. It’s something we’ve seen quite a bit of lately, most notably in the John Wick franchise which has build an entire lore around a world of assassins.
What makes this organization a different, however, is they aren’t simply mercs/assassin’s for hire. They have a strict code they’re supposed to adhere to, referring to themselves as “pest control.” They seem themselves as the “good guys” who are taking out the terrible people within society. As such, they pick and choose which assignments they take, handling only those they deem worthy.
This is just one of a few subtle changes to the tropes we’re accustomed to from these kind of films. Perhaps the biggest difference, is how Hornclaw is portrayed. While she is older, and passed her prime, she’s still very much involved in the organization she’s helped shape over the decades. She hasn’t hidden away, building a new life for herself when the past comes calling, or anything like that. She isn’t retired, or even really looking to get out of the game.
A recent series of events, however, has her rethinking a few things. There’s a younger man currently in charge of the organization who begins making decisions based on profit over purpose. An old colleague breaks the rules and needs to be “handled,” and previously unknown sentimentality is beginning to creep up on her. More important, however, is the new assassin, Bullfight (Kim Sung-cheol), brought onto the team who brings unexpected connections from an old job of hers.
Again, these are some story beats we’ve seen numerous times over the years. But even with all these familiar aspects in play, the film treats them differently. Hornclaw doesn’t view these things popping up as signs that it’s time to hang it all up. Rather, she sees them as reasons to get back to basics; reaffirming the honorable purpose/service they provide. There are some other, really interesting ways the story deals with the “character from her past” which ultimately drives the plot forward, but I don’t want to delve into those spoilers and ruin the fun.
The result of all these subtle twists on common tropes is an action film that’s far more thoughtful and introspective. That doesn’t mean it skimps on the action, far from it. There are a number of great “holy shit” sequences even the most ardent action/martial arts fan will have fun with. But how the story and characters are handled adds a great deal of weight to those moments; taking them beyond being purely for entertainment value. Even as they’re a blast to watch, you feel the sense of purpose behind them not only connecting to the larger story at play, but the more personal moments as well.
Another thing I want to mention regarding the action is how grounded it felt. There are plenty of wild/intense moments, but it also doesn’t go hog-wild on making them seem fantastical (as we often see with these kind of martial arts films from abroad). Don’t get me wrong, I love those kind of fight sequences as well, but by keeping things more down to earth, it hammers home the more thoughtful approach to the story being told.
Combine all that with some impressive performances, and The Old Woman With the Knife is an action-thriller that will keep you both on the edge of your seat and thinking about it long after the credits roll.
