Kim Ok-bin slays at the 70th Cannes International Film Festival in The Villainess

63 May 29, 2017July 19, 2021

Kim Ok-bin slays at the 70th Cannes International Film Festival in The Villainess

by tineybeanie

At the opening midnight screening for the 70th Cannes International Film Festival, Kim Ok-bin’s (Yoo-na’s Street) crime-thriller Villainess premiered to three full minutes of standing ovation from a diverse crowd of directors, actors, and film industry VIPs. And even judging from these short trailers, I can totally see why: The level of action is off the charts! The movie tracks an elite assassin trained from childhood to be a deadly killing machine, as she penetrates a labyrinth of conspiracies and secrets to take ultimate revenge.

The teaser begins with a man at the far end of a dank hallway, demanding to know who she is, when suddenly a gun points toward him from first-person POV and shoots. The copy reads: “I was raised to be a killing machine,” as we see Kim Ok-bin achieving multiple bullseye shots with a sniper rifle and moving through the streets of Seoul unnoticed. Kim Seo-hyung’s (The Good Wife) voiceover asks “Isn’t she useful?” and Kim Ok-bin’s masterful wielding of guns, sabers, and long knives are seen through impressive action shots on moving vehicles.

Kim Seo-hyung plays Kim Ok-bin’s handler, and in the trailer above, brief moments are shown of her and the other main cast members, Sung Joon (Perfect Wife) who plays a covert agency operative and Shin Ha-kyun (Pied Piper) who plays a mysterious man closely tied with Kim Ok-bin’s life. This teaser-trailer concentrates on the most exciting elements, the thrill-raising scenes of Kim Ok-bin leaping off cars and jumping off high-rise buildings and bridges.

Directed by Jung Byung-gil (Confessions of Murder), the action-packed film is about a badass female assassin trained in the art of murder, scouted by the most secret government organization in Korea and given this ultimatum: “Work ten years for us, and you’ll be free. But the moment you’re found out, we will eliminate you.” The trailer ends with Kim Ok-bin’s resolve to take revenge on her creators: “I will show you what you made me.”

In a different version of the trailer, Kim Ok-bin wears a wedding dress with tears filling her eyes, as she walks down the aisle, thinking, “This face you see, it’s not me.” And soon we see her real self, a deadly emotionless killer assembling a gun while still wearing her wedding dress, taking aim at an unknown target. Sung Joon’s voiceover asks, “Who was the target?” but there’s no reply, only a scene of a bloodied Kim Ok-bin strapped to a chair. Then we hear Shin Ha-kyun say, “I was the one who created you,” and Kim Ok-bin vows revenge as she replies, “I will show you what you made me. Because I can’t live as long as you’re alive.”

Oooh! This looks so good, and Kim Ok-bin looks so fierce as a lethal machine with her kohl-rimmed eyes, taking down anyone in her path without mercy or hesitation. According to reports, the actress trained for three months at stunt school for the role, and at the Cannes Film Festival, Park Chan-wook (who worked with her and Shin Ha-kyun in the 2009 film Thirst) personally cheered her on.

Thank goodness the domestic premiere is in two weeks because I can’t wait to watch! Villainess will be in Korean theaters on June 8.

Via Xports News

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1 ana

May 29, 2017 at 2:32 PM

There's nothing I can say except for: SLAAAAY!!!

Now, I really hope she will become the lead in Falsify.

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kiara

May 29, 2017 at 2:55 PM

I hope it'll go to Kang Han-na. Kim Ok-bin is doing well in Chungmuro.

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gem28

May 29, 2017 at 9:42 PM

Kang Han-na is being considered, then I hope it goes to her too. As despicable as she was in Scarlet Heart, she was the only one who was driven as a character and was great in her role. Kim Ok-bin, its unlikely that she'll follow up the current film with another drama, if she does then it is wonderful but unlikely.

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2 Herlene

May 29, 2017 at 2:34 PM

wow, looks really good!

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3 whimsyful

May 29, 2017 at 2:41 PM

The premise of K!Nikita with this cast alone is enough to get me to check this out. I love that Kim Ok-bin doing her own stunts too -- she's been posting training videos on her instagram and they look so cool.

Now can we get her and Lee Jun-ki together as the leads in an top notch action drama?

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kiara

May 29, 2017 at 3:00 PM

The wedding, the pregnant pride and her boss trying to kill her reminds me of "Kill Bill."

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CatoCat

May 30, 2017 at 6:46 AM

Sword battle + trained assassin. seems like much is inspired from Kill Bill.
There i much similar content is available so won't find something amazing but it will be a good mindless violence. 1 time watch.

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4 kiara

May 29, 2017 at 2:42 PM

Yay! Kim freaking Ok-bin!!! I've been checking up on the Cannes news for her movie.
Finally she gets to use her martial art skills to good use, not saying that's the only thing that she is good at. She has talents and range to go with it.

I can't wait to see it!

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kiara

May 29, 2017 at 2:44 PM

Holy crap! I'm so excited I can't even write properly LOL.

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unitedred

May 29, 2017 at 3:00 PM

I heard she has a black belt in a couple martial arts and has been consistently training in boxing. Usually, I don't expect much from action movies from Korea, but I'm really looking forward to this movie. I also heard about the standing ovation. People have really praised the action and unique camera work. Hopefully, the movie will be available soon near me.

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kiara

May 29, 2017 at 3:24 PM

She does and she is physically fit.
I'm so happy that it was well received at the biggest film festival there is.

Park Chan-wook has really good eye for talents. I never thought that Kim Ok-bin would be paired up with Song Kang-ho this early in her career but Park Chan-wook knew what he was doing. She was fantastic in "Thirst."
Park was part of the jury so I can imagine him cheering for her.

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unitedred

May 31, 2017 at 11:35 AM

Yeah she was amazing in thirst. It was a really difficult role for a new actress.

Beanfan

May 30, 2017 at 8:51 PM

Wow, we need more baddass female action actresses like her, then! She can be the next Korean Michelle Yeoh.

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5 I Quit

May 29, 2017 at 2:52 PM

Comment was deleted

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6 Lunabird

May 29, 2017 at 2:57 PM

Wow! Kim Ok Bin was off the charts during those action scenes. Can I just say that she looked great in that wedding dress while pulling off that shooting scene. Hopefully, she becomes the lead in Falsify. I would totally be ok with that.

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7 canxi

May 29, 2017 at 3:02 PM

Ahhhhhhh! Omg, love her and the cast is one I can get behind. I was wondering why I was seeing pics of Sung Joon at Cannes. It looks like because of school, I've been behind on film news but I can't wait to see this. A 3 minute standing ovation is no joke.

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8 UmbrellaMan

May 29, 2017 at 3:03 PM

This looks amazing. I am getting some Kill Bill revenge vibes from this. I hope it hits theatres in the US soon!!!!

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9 giocare

May 29, 2017 at 3:04 PM

Now THISSSSSS is my type of movie!! We need more badass women in movies and dramas

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10 mulan

May 29, 2017 at 3:08 PM

*sigh*
reminds me of my younger days.

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Kestrel

May 29, 2017 at 3:09 PM

You were a badass ninja assassin when you were younger? Do tell.

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yuyuu

May 29, 2017 at 4:46 PM

Lol, thanks for the laugh.
But you do bring up a valid point.

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mulan

May 29, 2017 at 11:20 PM

The movie doesn't do me justice.

(All else is confidential.)

*flies away*

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ChaimaaF

May 30, 2017 at 1:53 PM

lol is your nickname mulan a hint? XD

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Flightey Gazelles

May 31, 2017 at 4:43 AM

LWKMD!!!

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11 Kestrel

May 29, 2017 at 3:09 PM

So Kill Bill meets La Femme Nikita with a Korean Flair? Count me in! Anyone have US release details?

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12 Audreana K

May 29, 2017 at 3:23 PM

Oh my god, that looks badass with a capital B.

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13 Nessie

May 29, 2017 at 3:41 PM

This is the legit definition of QUEEN. Love badass films with women in action, I saw the trailer the other day and really liked the usage of first person view used within the film. Hope it screens here in my country sometime soon too!

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14 bambi

May 29, 2017 at 4:04 PM

Omg if this comes to TIFF I am 1000% gonna break my no-watch during festival rule and watch it. Holy moly.

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RoseRedFern

May 29, 2017 at 5:38 PM

Maybe we'll see you there!

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bambi

May 31, 2017 at 6:07 PM

Are you a fellow Torontonian??

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15 littlecat

May 29, 2017 at 4:33 PM

Very appropriate usage of the word "slay" - looks amazing! Can't wait to see it! :) Seems like the Korean film industry is being recognized on the international level more and more!

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16 Niall

May 29, 2017 at 4:36 PM

looks like Kill Bill

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17 yuyuu

May 29, 2017 at 4:42 PM

Okay, but how cool is she in a wedding dress with a gun? I can't decide if she's jaw-droppingly gorgeous or awesomely badass. My new aesthetic.

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18 Jazlynn

May 29, 2017 at 4:55 PM

This. Looks. Really. Good. Damn.

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19 mindy

May 29, 2017 at 5:35 PM

This looks SO BADASS, and the Hollywood Reporter wrote quite a positive review of the movie. I wonder if it will be playing in any theaters near me.

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20 Dzuy HR

May 29, 2017 at 5:49 PM

so... when can I watch this? and how?

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21 inna

May 29, 2017 at 6:36 PM

She's TOTALLY my style!

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22 loveblossom

May 29, 2017 at 7:22 PM

WOW, that teaser is so action-packed! Looks super intense and intriguing. Cool to see a strong female badass as the main lead too. :)

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23 Blcktron

May 29, 2017 at 7:26 PM

geeked out right now.... I Love Kim Ok Bin, It's been far too long since I have seen her on screen!! Glad to see her back with a bang

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bananapurge

May 30, 2017 at 3:06 PM

any recommendation for kob?

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Blcktron

May 30, 2017 at 8:42 PM

Over My Dead Body, Thirst .... Yoo Na's Street if you haven't seen that yet

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24 A Frog

May 29, 2017 at 7:32 PM

I like Nikita the american series.

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25 caffeinebreak

May 29, 2017 at 7:44 PM

W.O.W.

Slay is right! I normally do not venture beyond k-dramas but I'll definitely be on the lookout for Eng Subs of this K-movie! The slick production value of this movie is OFF THE CHARTS! <3

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26 harmonyfb

May 29, 2017 at 7:45 PM

Wait, wait - is this secretly the Black Widow movie? :grin:

And Sung Joon, too? Yasssssssssss.

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27 autumnlights

May 29, 2017 at 8:03 PM

Thoroughly enjoyed Maggie Q in Nikita and this seems equally great! Can't wait to view it!

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28 Mia

May 29, 2017 at 8:34 PM

So K version of Kill Bill?

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29 yuja

May 29, 2017 at 8:48 PM

Hell yeah. This looks super badass!! Korean films of late seem to be extremely male-dominated, like more than usual... I literally can't think of a single major recently released female-led film. But that means I'm all the more excited about this one!

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30 PV

May 29, 2017 at 9:08 PM

I have always loved these two guys KOB and SHK, always attempting to kill each other. Secretly, I ship them too.
Sad that SHK could not make it to Cannes because of his injury but hope the movie does well. Looks badass anyway !

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31 Jam

May 29, 2017 at 9:34 PM

Dizaaammmm girl is on fireee!

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32 teacup

May 29, 2017 at 9:58 PM

I loved her in Yoo-na's Street and Thirst. This look fantastic and badasss!!

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33 Joseph

May 29, 2017 at 11:11 PM

slick! we all love k-dramas and kpop, but let's not forget about korean movies. production quality of korean cinema is up there with the best of the world.

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34 TM

May 30, 2017 at 12:19 AM

Wow if that one premired at Cannes it must be really good especially if there was a standing ovation. I don't know if it will be in theaters in my country. If not I think I'll just watch it online (but it looks like it would be better to watch this movie at theaters)

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35 A

May 30, 2017 at 12:47 AM

"Park Chan Wook personally cheered her on.." - How does this writer know? Where is this news , video please?

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36 pipette

May 30, 2017 at 3:18 AM

This looks amazing. She looks amazing. I love action thrillers like these and I love it even more when we have badass ladies at the forefront! I'm glad they got a standing ovation at Cannes! :)