No Other Choice delivers dark humor, moral dilemmas, and a haunting take on what it means to be a husband and a father.
Last October 25, 2025, Filipino fans celebrated Son Ye Jin’s return to the big screen with a special advanced block screening of No Other Choice. The event, held at the S’Maison Director’s Club in Pasay City, was organized by Son Ye Jin Philippine Fans (@sontokkiesph) and Sonhyun (@sonhyun6.ig) in partnership with CreaZion Studios (@thecreazionstudios).
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The Film
No Other Choice marks another exciting collaboration between screenwriter Lee Kyoung Mi and director Park Chan Wook, who previously worked together on Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005). Given Park’s track record with critically lauded films like The Handmaiden (2016), expectations were naturally high for this project.
No Other Choice Plot
Based on the 1997 novel The Ax by Donald E. Westlake, the film boasts a star-studded cast led by Son Ye Jin (Mi Ri), Lee Byung Hun (Yoo Man Su), Lee Sung Min (Koo Beom Mo), Park Hee Soon (Choi Seon Chul), and Yeom Hye Ran (Lee A Ra), among others.
The story follows Yoo Man Su, a husband and father who works as a manager for a U.S. paper company. What he believes to be a reward for his loyal service turns out to be a farewell gift, as he is laid off shortly after.
Man Su is the typical husband, the family’s steadfast provider, maintaining the large house he inherited from his father all while making sure he provides for his family’s wants and needs. Meanwhile, Mi Ri is the typical wife, who remains dutiful and loyal despite their growing struggles.
After a string of failed job interviews, he devises a horrifying plan: to identify his top competitors and eliminate them one by one until he’s the only candidate left. As Man Su carries out his plan, he tells himself, “No other choice,” the same phrase his previous company told them during the layoff. Now, it has transformed into a sort of mantra, a justification for his crimes.
Despite the grim premise, Park Chan Wook infuses the film with moments of dark comedy, balancing tension with irony and wit.
A Social Commentary
No Other Choice is a biting critique of desperation and survival in a capitalist world. Man Su’s transformation from a loyal employee who took pride in his work and people to a calculating murderer illustrates the extreme lengths to which systemic pressures can drive an ordinary person.
In the end, Man Su achieves everything he wanted: he obtains the job, keeps the house, and faces no consequences for his crimes. This serves as a stark reminder that individuals who commit evil often escape unpunished, while those who fight justly, such as Man Su’s competitors, often fail to receive the justice they deserve.
It is a compelling story of a man’s slow descent into moral decay as he is faced by dire circumstances. But whether he is a victim or a perpetrator is a question for the viewer.
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Sources: ClickTheCity, Rotten Tomatoes
