Phantom Detective

Our hero's quest ... never ignites, mostly because of Mr. Lee's acting deficits.

The South Korean suspense drama is both ideal popcorn movie and morally complex revenge tale.

It's interesting to see an indie director like Jo Sung-hee making his way in the mainstream, and while not quite firing on all cylinders yet, he's a filmmaker worth watching

The Phantom Detective is greater than the sum of its parts, and although it doesn't reach levels of greatness, it is an entertaining diversion that packs committed performances, surprising direction from Jo Sung-hee and an appealing visual style.

All in all, this modern take on Korea's famed Hong Gil-dong character is both hilarious and heartfelt, with great performance by lead Lee Je-hoon and youngsters Roh Jeong-eui and Kim Ha-na.

Entertainment value positively surges through this highly capable Korean thriller.