Introduction

Quick, when I say South Korean assassin what image pops up in your mind? If I had to guess it’s a young handsome or pretty person with attractive features. That’s what most would think so I can’t blame you. As a movie buff you become accustomed to clichés and tropes. That’s why I was surprised when I saw Well Go USA planning to release stateside a South Korean movie where the main assassin is an older woman that many wouldn’t question if you believed she was a kind grandma, not a killer assassin. Enter, The Old Woman with the Knife. Directed by Min Kyu-dong (Memento Mori) and adapted from a light novel by Gu Byeong-mo, The Old Woman with the Knife looked incredible from the trailers but trailers can often make even the worst movie look incredible. Is this old woman still razor sharp or does age cause even the best knife to dull? Time to find out in my review of The Old Woman with the Knife! Once more, thanks to Well Go USA for the screener copy!

Story

Our movie starts with a young homeless girl being taken in by what seems like an ordinary couple. They feed her and allow her to stay as long as she helps around their diner. Not long after, a “friend” of the family—an American soldier—attempts to rape the poor girl who defends herself and ends up killing him. When the husband (Ryu) returns home from his “pest control,” he discovers the girl and her actions but instead of reporting her, decides to show her what he really does for a living. He names her Nails and reveals he is part of an organization that removes the pests or vermin of the world by killing them. Nails rises up, clearly killing many pests and making a name for herself.

Years have passed and the once young Nails is now in her 60s and goes by Hornclaw. Despite her skills still being recognized in the agency, her body is beginning to show signs of age and illness. Still, she refuses to back down and kills if deemed necessary. Due to the direction the organization begins taking, Hornclaw drifts further from their focus and leans into her own beliefs. We also learn that long ago, when she was still Nails, Ryu’s wife and child were brutally murdered, leading him on a doomed rampage. Nails kills the attackers, adopting the name Hornclaw afterward.

A new assassin named Bullfight rises up, aiming to prove himself. He and Hornclaw cross paths, causing a series of events that challenge Hornclaw’s principles. While the premise of an older woman assassin is unique, most of The Old Woman with the Knife follows familiar revenge and vengeance tropes. You’ll meet several characters with differing agendas, but ultimately Hornclaw’s path is what matters. I didn’t dislike the story, but I would have preferred more focus on her rather than the organization, which often feels underwhelming. The ending is solid, though one scene—possibly involving a rope and a gun—is absurd and over the top.

Acting and Cast

Lee Hye-young steals the show as Hornclaw—but not because she’s constantly on screen. Everyone in The Old Woman with the Knife delivers excellent performances. Lee Hye-young sells her character perfectly: an assassin numb to the world due to her upbringing, now softened and hardened simultaneously by age. Shin Si-ah, who plays her younger self, is also fantastic, and it’s a shame she only appears in flashbacks.

Kim Sung-cheol plays a cruel young assassin who ends up causing trouble for Hornclaw and others. Other strong performances come from Yeon Woo-jin (Dr. Kang), Kim Mu-yeol (Ryu), and Kim Sung-cheol (Bullfight). No one weakens the film; the acting is consistently solid across the board.

Cinematography and Direction

I worried that having an older assassin as the lead might create issues for the cinematography, but those concerns vanished quickly. The Old Woman with the Knife is visceral and rarely relies on excessive jump cuts. When Lee Hye-young does need stunt help, the camera moves to hide it, but never in an annoying way. The cinematography respects her age and grounds her action in survival rather than spectacle.

The direction is quite strong even if the story isn’t perfect. Hornclaw often reflects on past trauma, which fits her age and mindset. Still, the film sometimes jumps too quickly between characters and their struggles—another reason I wish the focus had stayed on Hornclaw alone. It’s never confusing, but the narrative occasionally loses momentum.

Conclusion

I enjoyed The Old Woman with the Knife for what it delivers: a unique take on the central assassin not being your typical killer. The story jumps around too much and should have focused more on Hornclaw—though it thankfully does near the end. Still, the ending is solid and the film doesn’t disappoint when it centers on her. If you’re tired of the usual “young assassin” trope, you’ll enjoy The Old Woman with the Knife. Be sure to watch when it releases digitally this November 25th, 2025! Thanks again to Well Go USA for the opportunity to watch it here at SunsetNerdVerse!

—Aaron