Streaming And Screaming: ‘The Man From Nowhere’
by Tito W. James
The Man From Nowhere is like the Rosetta Stone of New Wave Action. It’s plot: “an ex-enforcer sets aside his new and humble life to take on a brutal trafficking ring to keep a child, his only friend, from harm’s way.” You can see the film’s influence on everything from John Wick to Victor Santos’s Polar graphic novels. What really makes The Man From Nowhere groundbreaking is the level of physical and emotional consequences for the protagonist. It’s not just about being badass, cool, or even good. Also, as it’s a Korean film, we are not guaranteed a “Hollywood ending” — which adds an extra level of tension to every fight. This film is the tipping point that ushered in a New Wave of action filmmaking. You owe it to yourself to check it out.
The Man From Nowhere is now streaming on Tubi.
