Traffickers opens with an intense
sequence, before even getting caught up in details of plot or character, and at
its best moments returns to this suspenseful style of filmmaking.
Unfortunately, the plot is never able match these glimmers of effective
filmmaking. Despite some well-shot sequences, the final product is too uneven
and jumbled. There are too many coincidences and twists, in an apparent attempt
to create an exciting fictional storyline from real-world criminal events.
Part of what makes this film so confused is
the fact that the protagonist is also working as somewhat of a villain.
Young-Gyu (Chang Jung Lim) is an Organ Dealer, running an organization that
steals and sells people’s organs aboard a cruiser headed from South Korea to China
This is where
the plot gets confused, because the organs that Young-Gyu agrees to steal are
meant for Yoo-Ri’s sick father. The number of coincidences and accidental
encounters aboard the cruise ship are more akin to a comedy of errors than a
thriller, asking more suspension of disbelief than most audience members may be
able to muster. This all leads to an even more ridiculous ending, however
exciting in its elements of action and spectacle. This leaves the entire
endeavor feeling like a film that tried to go in too many directions at once,
like a child that used all of the colors in the box of crayons only to discover
they had created a muddled mess on their page.
The Blu-ray
doesn’t offer special features, though some of the visual/auditory spectacle is
slightly enhanced by the high definition presentation of the film.
Entertainment Value:
6.5/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 6/10
Historical
Significance: 3/10
Special Features: 0/10
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