As a fan of #KillBoksoon, I was excited to see its spin-off, #Mantis (not to be confused with the ongoing drama #QueenMantis, also in Netflix). What, with #ImSiwan in the lead 🥰🥰🥰although I wasn’t looking forward to see the female lead. So far, wala ako nagugustuhan sa mga portrayals nya hahaha. O baka nga kasi effective 😂 Sorry na.
Just like its predecessor, Mantis is an action thriller film about a contract killer industry, and Mantis, his nickname, played by Siwan, is an ace assassin who comes back from a hiatus only to find a chaotic hitman world after its leader, Cha Min Kyu, dies.
I’m not sure if it’s me but I found the spin-off kind of tamer, or milder. Or was I getting immune to seeing violence and killings? Anyway, kahit anong gawin ko, hindi ko ma-feel si Park Gyu Young who plays Jae Yi (Celebrity, A Good Day To Be A Dog, Sweet Home, Squid Game, Nine Puzzles), I’m sure though she is a good and popular actress and I admit I was impressed how she could speak English fluently, having studied the language when she was in high school.
Jae Yi has been harboring ill feelings against Mantis, or Han-ul, because no matter how hard she tried, she would always be 2nd place to him. Mantis, on the other hand, has been in love with her for ages, and this same love seems to be his downfall, as he will always prioritize her and do favors for her. Up to the end. We didn’t see much though bakit ganito ka-special si Jae Yi sa kanya. Kulang yung build up? And I will never understand why mas kinampihan niya itong si girl over his mentor. Nakakabulag talaga ang pag-ibig ano ha.
What I like about Mantis:
1. Siwan, as always, is charming on screen. Obvious bang Oppa ko siya? 🥰 LOL He is not as bad as the role may seem. In fact, Han-ul is portrayed as "a warm-hearted, human killer who hides his gentle nature." Despite what seems to be a limited material, very evident naman talaga ang ability niya to play a variety of characters, mapa-kawawa (Misaeng, Boyhood), mapa-villain (Unlocked, Emergency Declaration), mapa-weird (Strangers from Hell), mapa-rich kid (Run On), mapa-pogi (Summer Strike).
2. Cast is awesome. And before you ask yourself, saan ko nga ba sila napanuod, o eto na: Jo Woo Jin (Narco-Saints, Harbin, Happiness, Gangnam B Side) as Dok Go, Choi Hyun Wook (Twinkling Watermelon, Weak Hero Class, Twenty-Five Twenty-One, My Dearest Nemesis) as Benjamin, and Sul Kyung Gu (Kill Boksoon, Hyper Knife) as Cha Min Kyu.
3. Ok naman ang action hahaha a genre na I didn’t know I could enjoy as much as rom-coms. Yung paggamit ng “sickles (or blades)” as his weapon, sayang, parang kulang pa yung pag-highlight. Kaya nga siya Mantis eh. How he looks wielding those twin sickles, the character's visual signature or fighting style, resembles the way a mantis uses its forelegs daw. It was said that in preparation for this, Siwan underwent extensive training at an action school to get accustomed to handling the dual sickles.
4. And another trivia, namention na si Mantis sa Kill Boksoon, a role which, they said, was destined for Siwan.
5. Boksoon, played by the phenomenal Jeon Do Yeon, does a cameo. I literally gasped nung eksena niya, nagulat ako talaga. Although maraming references talaga sa kanya and sa original film.
So eto na lang muna. Nabitin ako kay Mantis hahaha it leaves me “praying” for more.
Catch #Mantis if you can Netflix
#BuhayKPam
