Plot: Bryan, a Korean American teenager who wants out of his ruthless gang the Goblins, setting the stage for gang retribution against him. On his first day of GED summer school for at-risk students, Bryan meets his new teacher, a tough ex-con and ex-gang member named James Park, a middle-aged man on a positive new course in life. When the Goblin gang invades the school to kill Bryan, they accidentally trigger the school’s prototype preventative protocol measure, the Hard Lockdown Security System, locking everyone — and every door — in the school. The Goblin assassins take hostages but can’t get to Bryan unless they find a way into his classroom, but Mr. Park and a seasoned security guard named Rico will risk their lives to save the students and stop the Goblins by any means necessary. A final confrontation between Mr. Park and the leader of the Goblins reveals a startling revelation as to the Goblins’ true intention of invading the school. Mr. Park will have to decide his fate: Run and save himself, or fight in a do-or-die match against the boss and skilled assassins of the gang.
Hard Redemption is the latest indie action movie from Jino Kang who made the entertaining Fist 2 Fist 2: Weapon of Choice and Hand 2 Hand. Kang directs alongside Christine Lam with a script that was co-written by our very own david j. moore.
Now, this is super low budget so don’t go in expecting big set-pieces, but where this movie shines are the fight scenes. Jino Kang still has the moves, and the choreography is fluid where we can see every punch and kick. I like how this movie doesn’t waste time with long and tedious dialogue, but it has enough to progress the story. The focus here is on the action and that’s always a plus.
Jino Kang is always very appealing on screen and makes for a sympathetic lead; Lou Ferrigno also has a small role and gets a few brief fights, but he sadly disappears during the final showdown.
The Viking Samurai AKA David Kurzhal himself shows up as a villain and gets a decent battle with Kang for the climax; he’s charismatic on screen although I wish he had a bigger role as I liked him in The Last Kumite. It’s the final 20 minutes where the movie really picks up as Kang takes on multiple opponents.
There is some cool electric guitar music during the action scenes which always makes any movie better.
This also doesn’t overstay its welcome with a brisk runtime of just under 90 minutes, keeping things well paced.
Overall, Hard Redemption is low budget fare, but it excels with the well choreographed fight scenes and a sympathetic yet badass lead in Jino Kang.