I've read several things regarding this movie from writer/director Park Hoon-Jung. And many were offended by the use of anonymous female actresses in here to where I think, if I recall, Park Hoon-Jung even had to announce he'd do a better research of how to portray women in future projects. Well, I'm a woman and I say, The Hell. The thing is, if you're going to watch a movie and be offended or unable to take its content, do a review search first- the great wide-web is full of summary/critique reviews. Yes, there are gory movies which its purpose seems to glorify men and denigrate women but this film wasn't one of them. VIP's basic element was just to tell a story. It wasn't about the use of women or what women stood for here, but about political interest with the center of it all being a psychopath rapist/murderer. So if Park Hoon-Jung's antagonist is a nut bag with no soul, should he had written the character as a mild murderer who thinks twice about hurting women or better yet meekly portrayed that into his movie? No. The antagonist here was written, intentionally, to be brutal to the core. It's what the story is. And for anyone to tell a writer/director he needs to improve his execution of how he portrays one genre so to not offend people is banal. It's like telling a painter not to paint what he wants because the colors/themes he uses is too provocative for the sensitive minds. I suggest people watch what doesn't offend them then. Art isn't meant to be pretty. It's meant to be expressive even if we may find it absurd at times. I'm not denying the volatile depiction and graphic content of VIP, I did find it gruesome but I'm saying it's what it is, a film written to be that way. Park Hoon-Jung is famous for creating weaving complex political/crime stories: The Unjust, I Saw The Devil, New World. So These plots are to be expected.

Now as to the movie, it was a well written plot with all the political intrigue being the force behind it. It portrays how government agencies are taught to view the bigger picture (always for national interest first) before individual citizens. The local cop is but a pawn in this scheme - a lone wolf racing to end an injustice being done to innocent women. I like the leading cast of this crew very much. And Lee Jong-Suk really needs to broaden his horizon. This movie allowed him to do that. It took him out of the redundant typecast romance/rom-com pretty prince for a short while. We get to see that he is capable of other roles so I do hope he branches out more. It'd be a waste of his talent to just stick to easy roles.

Overall - good.

Recommend - It is an intriguing story if one looks pass the disturbance. Only for those who can stomach brutal movies.