---
title: "The Man from Nowhere: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-man-from-nowhere/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-man-from-nowhere"
critics_score: 66
critics_reviews: 7
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# The Man from Nowhere (2010): what the critics said

Critics' score 66 from 7 reviews: 2 positive, 5 mixed, 0 negative.

Most critics land on mild approval: two positive, five mixed, none negative, and the spread is narrow. The praise clusters on the action. The fight sequences, and one knife fight in particular, are described as kinetic, well shot and tightly paced, with Lee Jeong-beom credited for keeping them tense. Won Bin’s central performance is the other point of agreement; several reviews call it commanding, and more than one singles out his bond with the child, So-mi, as the part of the film that holds.

The reservations cluster on the story. Nearly every review calls the plot familiar or predictable, and the melodrama is noted more than once. Variety finds the violence excessive enough to limit the film’s appeal, and Den of Geek goes furthest, calling it lacklustre and short on excitement despite the well-delivered action. Two of the seven reviews could not be fully read, so the consensus rests on the five whose verdicts are clear.

## Slant Magazine — Sean Axmaker

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 5 October 2010. Festival review. 

The critic finds the film slick and well constructed, though not a transcendent action film. He praises its visceral scenes and dark atmosphere, while noting that its plot is predictable.

[Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/vancouver-international-film-festival-2010-the-man-from-nowhere/)

## Time Out

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 15 March 2012. 

The page is identified as a review, but the article text is unavailable, so its verdict cannot be established. The available description highlights Won Bin’s striking presence, without revealing what the critic praises overall.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/newyork/film/the-man-from-nowhere)

## Variety — Russell Edwards

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 26 October 2010. Festival review. 

Edwards finds the Korean thriller dynamic and commercially polished, though its familiar genre elements and excessive violence limit its appeal. He praises Won Bin’s commanding action-hero performance and Lee Jeong-beom’s tense, well-paced fight sequences.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2010/film/reviews/the-man-from-nowhere-1117943932/)

## Screen Daily — Darcy Paquet

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 24 August 2010. 

The page identifies this as a review, but its text is unavailable behind the access prompt. No critical verdict or praised or criticized element can be established from the visible material.

[Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/the-man-from-nowhere-ajeossi/5017311.article)

## Eye for Film — Owen Van Spall

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 7 November 2010. Festival review. 

The critic finds it gripping, kinetic entertainment despite familiar clichés and flaws. He singles out the slick, visceral fight choreography and the bond between Tae-sik and So-mi.

[Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-man-from-nowhere-film-review-by-owen-van-spall)

## Den of Geek — Joseph Ewens

Rating 3/5. 26 April 2011. 

Ewens finds the film watchable but ultimately lacklustre, with its story and setting failing to live up to their potential. He praises the well-shot, effectively delivered action, while noting it lacks excitement and the child’s early performance is impressive.

[Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-man-from-nowhere-dvd-review/)

## HeyUGuys — Craig Skinner

Rating 3/5. 13 April 2011. 

The critic finds the film entertaining and gripping despite its familiar plotting and melodrama. They praise the central performances and single out the visceral knife fight, while criticizing the UK DVD’s lack of extras.

[Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/the-man-from-nowhere-dvd-review/)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-man-from-nowhere.md