A Love to Kill

Main Cast:
Kang Bok-ku: Jung Ji Hoon (a.k.a Bi) ("Full House")
Cha Eun-suk: Shin Min Ah ("Beautiful Days")
Han Da-jung: Kim Sa Rang
Kim Joon-sung: Lee Ki Woo ("The Classic"/"Sad Movie")
Kang Min-joo (Bok-ku's older brother): Kim Young Jae

Synopsis:

Kang Bok-ku is a skilled K-1 fighter. However, he has never tried to win a single fight, as he has no desire for the attention that will come with a title. He lives in the same house with Han Da-jung, who saved him from a fire when they were teenagers. Raked by guilt that she became scarred as a result and knowing her love for him, Bok-ku intends to spend the rest of his life with her, even though he is not in love with her. After years of being estranged from his older brother, Kang Min-joo, Bok-gu finally reconciles with him. However, the reunion is short-lived. Min-joo attempts suicide upon learning of the engagement of his ex-girlfriend, Cha Eun-suk.

Cha Eun-suk is an up-and-coming actress. Caught in a compromising position with Kim Joon-sung, heir to a large conglomerate, she is forced into an engagement with him. As Min-joo lies in a vegetated state, Bok-gu learns of his relationship with Eun-suk. Min-joo had taken care of Eun-suk and her family, often helping them out financially, before Eun-suk became a famous actress. However, as Bok-gu concludes, she had broken up with Min-joo upon achieving success because he would now become a burden to her. Bok-gu blames her for Min-joo’s current state and vows revenge.

Bok-gu starts by getting himself hired as Eun-suk’s bodyguard. Then using the same method as his brother (as detailed in Min-joo’s diary), Bok-gu woos her. Reluctantly, Eun-suk starts to fall for Bok-gu. To complicate matters, Bok-gu finds himself falling for Eun-suk as well. On the day of her engagement, Eun-suk and Bok-gu run away together, only to have her family and Joon-sung announce that she has been kidnapped by Bok-gu. This lands him in jail but Eun-suk publicly acknowledges her relationship with Bok-gu, knowing full well that the ensuing scandal will ruin her career.

Bok-gu completes his revenge by revealing to Eun-suk, his identity and his plans to ruin her. Eun-suk is devastated but more so when she sees Min-joo in his current state. Bok-gu too is saddened to have hurt Eun-suk as he is now in love with her. As Eun-suk stubbornly continues to visit and care for Min-joo, Bok-gu finally realises the truth about their relationship. Min-joo had been the one to leave Eun-suk, fearing he will stand in the way of her success. Eun-suk had been relentlessly searching and leaving messages for Min-joo, as she was still in love with him. Overcome by guilt for what he has done to Eun-suk, Bok-gu moves Min-joo away to prevent Eun-suk from seeing them again.

A year passes…Eun-suk has left the spotlight. No longer an actress, her family runs a karaoke centre while she holds a regular job. Predictably, she meets Bok-gu again. He tells her that Min-joo has passed away. She is saddened and visits Bok-gu’s house only to see Min-joo. Although Min-joo is unable to speak or comprehend very much, he recognizes Eun-suk. She decides to take him away to care for him herself despite Bok-gu’s protests. Bok-gu and Da-jung pay a visit on Min-joo’s birthday. It is apparent that Bok-gu and Eun-suk still love each other. Min-joo realizes this and before he dies, he asks Bok-gu to love Eun-suk.

With all that has happened, Bok-gu and Eun-suk realise their love is doomed. They spend a carefree day and night together before parting for good. They promise each other to live well and to succeed in their respective careers. Joon-sung, who had financed Eun-suk’s last movie releases it and she is thrust back into the limelight. She also decides to give Joon-sung a chance. Another year passes and Eun-suk’s career is on a high. There is speculation of her marrying Joon-sung. Bok-gu too has achieved fame after winning the championship fight. However, he still misses Eun-suk.

Then, Eun-suk disappears. Concerned, Bok-gu goes to look for Eun-suk at the place they had spent their last day together. Trekking through the snow, Bok-gu finally finds Eun-suk, half-frozen and miles from shelter. She had kept her promise to succeed but she is still unable to forget her love for Bok-gu. Bok-gu carries her but weighed down by her and the harsh conditions, he had to stop. He hugs her tight to warm her but both eventually succumb to the cold. They are finally reunited in death.

Review:

I had high hopes for “A Love to Kill”. It stars the talented Rain and was written by Lee Kyung-hee who also wrote, “I'm Sorry I Love You”, which was one of the saddest and touching dramas I have ever watched. And just like “I'm Sorry I Love You”, the theme of “A Love to Kill” is revenge. Both also share a similar ending. And of course, both also have the most beautiful and haunting songs ever in a drama. Unfortunately, the similarities end here because in comparison, “A Love to Kill” is lacking…in originality, in story, in emotion and (sad to say) in acting.

I hate to say it but I was disappointed with Rain’s acting. Even as a fan, I have to be honest. I had so loved him in “Sangdoo, Let’s Go to School” and “Full House” but here, he didn’t show much range. He does well in his crying scenes, especially the scene after he completes his revenge and he heartbreaking tells a comatose Min-joo that Eun-suk isn’t the kind of woman one hurts. In this scene, Rain held nothing back. However, the rest of the time, his expression didn’t vary much. He was appropriately troubled and sad but he lacks the little nuances that So Ji-sup had as Cha Mu-hyeok in “I'm Sorry I Love You”. Both characters were similar, torn between the desire for revenge and love, but So Ji-sup, with nary a lift of his eyebrows, conveyed more successfully the many emotions his character went through.

Average performance aside, Rain does have screen presence - the moment he appeared on screen, he would be the one I focused on. I cannot say the same for the other actors though. Shin Min-ah cries really well and she does "looking sad" very well too. However, unlike her moving portrayal of a deaf girl in the movie "A Season for Love" (aka "Sad Movie"), Shin Min-ah's performance here failed to touch me. Similarily, none of the other actors left much of an impression.

I don’t think there was much chemistry between Rain and Shin Min-ah, which might explain the lack of emotion I felt for “A Love to Kill”. I only felt a stirring of emotion when the theme songs were played and for that, kudos to the songwriter(s). I found it unbelievable that Bok-gu would fall for Eun-suk. Eun-suk was perpetually depressed, so what did he see in her? Eun-suk fell for Bok-gu because his method of pursuing her reminded her of Min-joo and not because she saw the real Bok-gu. The real Bok-gu she did see was
terrifying – dragging her forcefully into the hospital to see Min-joo but changing his mind at the last moment; driving away without her after taking her away from her engagement – and all without explanation. What woman in her right mind could love a man who was so unpredictable and confused? Their love story just wasn't adequately developed. As such, I was not convinced that their love could have survived Bok-gu’s betrayal, Min-joo’s death and a two year separation, culminating in both dying together.

An "original" story is rare as most share similar themes but what sets a drama apart is the ability of the writer, director and actors to tell the story in a way that is 'new', interesting, and can evoke the desired response and emotions from the audience. The theme of revenge has been explored before by other dramas but "I'm Sorry I Love You", was able to wove a story around this theme that was believable, with real characters, situations and emotions. It felt original although the theme is not. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about "A Love to Kill", which fails to surprise or excite, and as such, becomes just another typical Korean weepie, albeit more superior than the norm.

I suppose if I had no expectations for “A Love to Kill”, or "I'm Sorry I Love You" to compare against, I would have been less critical. However, considering the talents involved, my expectations were not unrealistic. However, to be fair, even with all its faults, I will say that "A Love to Kill" is better than the average formulaic Korean dramas out there and thus, will give it a 3.5.