Midnight Runners (2017)

 

This hilarious but totally entertaining Korean movie "Midnight Runners" is very relevant to any kind of dangerous society all over the world, especially here in the Philippines. The story is about two police academy students on a one-night leave who get entangled with a ring of kidnappers that victimize young women for their eggs and other body organs. As expected, the villains are Chinese Koreans who specialize in this kind of crime - which is also happening in the Philippines where the Chinese are always the suspects. They usually transact their business with big-time doctors and hospitals that offer fertility eggs and body organs to people who seek immediate help. But the problem is the bureaucracy. The two students, fearing for the lives of the girls, cannot possibly wait for several months before the authorities take action on the crime which the students themselves witnessed and experienced. The question is - will they put the responsibility of saving the girls on their shoulders - and expect expulsion? Or will they just give up and wait for the authorities to solve the problems after a few months, or maybe a year?  

In the end, this Korean film stands out not only as a sharp piece of entertainment but also as a daring social commentary. At its heart, it challenges the uncomfortable reality of a police force too often bound to political interests rather than the people they are sworn to protect. By portraying two policemen who risk their careers - and even their lives - by defying hollow protocols for the sake of saving others, the film offers both a critique and a vision of integrity. What makes it even more admirable is its ability to weave humor into such a weighty subject, transforming what could have been a grim political statement into an engaging, thought-provoking experience. It is precisely this blend of courage, wit, and humanity that makes the film not just relevant but essential viewing.