On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 56/100 based on 21 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews". G. Allen Johnson of the San Francisco Chronicle called the film "a waste", referring to it as "so bloody, scatologically violent and consistently shocking, [that] it seems to have no larger purpose than itself – which is pretty grim." Manohla Dargis of The New York Times wrote that "it is a drag that the film never rises to the level of its director's obvious ability", stating that "the violence [in the film] carries no meaning beyond the creator's ego." Daniel Eagan of Film Journal International called the film "glossy, morbid and childishly provocative", praising its visual style but criticizing director Park's "curdled vision". Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune wrote: "[It] is a rigorously planned film. It's also a disingenuous one, somber in tone, callow at its core." Derek Elley of Variety called the film "a gripping psychodrama, marbled with blackly ironic humor". The Guardians Peter Bradshaw gave the film a score of three out of five stars, calling it "deeply twisted and bizarre" but noting its "weirdly nightmarish conviction." Wesley Morris of The Boston Globe gave the film a positive review, calling it "a pristine-looking movie with astounding framing and a deftly handled sociopolitical bent", and concluding that, "despite the coldblooded killing and trail of the dead, Mr. Vengeance feels warmly suffused with life." In her review of the film for The A.V. Club, Tasha Robinson wrote that Park's "style is as bold and uncompromising as his story, which seems designed to show how revenge dehumanizes more than it satisfies, even for people who wholly deserve revenge. [...] It's a difficult balancing act, but Park crafts his layers carefully and masterfully." Awards 2002 Busan Film Critics Awards Best Film Best Director – Park Chan-wook 2002 Chunsa Film Art Awards Best Music – Baik Hyun-jhin and Jang Young-gyu (UhUhBoo Project) 2002 Korean Association of Film Critics Awards Best Director – Park Chan-wook Best Screenplay – Park Chan-wook, Lee Jae-soon, Lee Moo-young and Lee Yong-jong 2002 Korean Film Awards Best Cinematography – Kim Byung-il Best Editing – Kim Sang-bum Best Lighting – Park Hyun-won 2002 Director's Cut Awards Best Director – Park Chan-wook Remake In January 2010, Warner Bros. acquired the rights for an American remake of the film. Brian Tucker was attached to write the screenplay, to be produced by