It’s amazing to see how South Korea’s film industry has risen to be virtually on par with that of Bolly- and Hollywood in recent years.

This is why Malaysians should catch the South Korean thriller “The Roundup”, the sequel to 2017’s “The Outlaws”, which told a thrilling cop-and-gangster story.

“The Roundup” has been a smash hit in its home country since its May premiere, and occupies the spot of biggest-earning domestic film this year.

This success could partly be attributed to its star. Ma Dong-seok, from “Train to Busan” and “Eternals”, reprises his role as Ma Seok-do, a police detective who solves cases with his fists as much as his wits.

In the first film, he faced down Chinese gangsters attempting to set up shop in Seoul; this time around, he’s the one who gets into shenanigans overseas.

When he and his captain, Jeon Il-man, are sent to Vietnam to extradite a petty criminal, they discover the man is fleeing from a far more sinister threat. He’s being pursued by a serial killer named Kang, who has been luring Koreans to their deaths.

Despite their lack of jurisdiction overseas, the two insist on bringing the killer to justice and set off in hot pursuit, following the bloody trail left behind by their quarry.

If you have not seen “The Outlaws”, don’t worry – this film stands perfectly on its own two feet, with little that connects it to its predecessor, protagonist aside.

It’s also director Lee Sang-yong’s debut work – he served as assistant director on “The Outlaws” – and succeeds in making a good follow-up, bringing back what people liked about the first movie and doubling down on them.

“The Roundup” also shines thanks to some terrific performances. Son Seuk-ku’s Kang is unnerving and menacing, his dead eyes accentuating the tension as he torments his victims with blades.

When he finally comes toe to toe with someone who can actually fight back – like the mighty glacier that is Ma – it makes for a thrilling fight.

Ma himself is also an interesting character, a gentle giant who is not above using unorthodox and violent means to get what he wants… the kind of guy who would gently usher a granny off a bus before throwing his opponent through a window with heavy punches.

He also has a good chemistry with Jeon, resulting in hilarious moments when they try one-upping each other.

The fight scenes are well choreographed, with one in particular displaying an impressively long, single shot as Kang deals with a group of assassins.

Adding to the thrill are sets that are deliberately restrictive, with fights happening in an apartment, a lift, and the aforementioned bus.

Given the 18-rating, you can expect some pretty brutal brawls, with machetes, cleavers and knives leading to gory results. (Side observation: unlike American films where guns and shootouts are omnipresent, there is but one single revolver in “The Roundup”, with little consequence to the plot.)

Yet, amidst all the chaos, the film does not take itself too seriously, perfectly balancing its action scenes with humour – but not to the point that it devolves into a comedy.

All in all, “The Roundup” is worth a watch as you will be assured of a fun and exciting time. And with Korean filmmakers now churning out globally recognised films, perhaps the future is bright for Malaysian creatives – including those who are producing action movies – to also have a chance to shine in the international spotlight.

‘The Roundup’ is playing in cinemas nationwide.