The "Tazza" franchise, which has spanned 20 years, is coming to an end with its fourth installment, "Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub."
"Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub" is a crime film about Jang Taeyoung (Byun Yohan), who thought he had the world in his hands through an online casino business, and his close friend with the same name, Park Taeyoung (Roh Jae-won), who stripped him of everything, as they reunite in a global gambling ring for a rematch of revenge.
The "Tazza" series has anchored the Chuseok holiday box office in South Korea for two decades. Following the massive success of the first film "Tazza" during Chuseok in 2006, "Tazza: The Hidden Card" in 2014 and "Tazza: One-Eyed Jack" in 2019 also greeted audiences during the same period. This is why the formula "Tazza equals Chuseok" was established.
"Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub" will continue that legacy by opening on September 23, the day before the Chuseok holiday. It is the final installment of the series based on original comic books by artist Huh Young-man. While previous films shared at least partial cinematic universes, this new work can be viewed as an entirely standalone piece.
There are both pros and cons. The advantage is that new audiences who have not seen the previous series can easily jump in. It can be said to lower the barrier to entry for audiences in their 20s and 30s. For fans who have loved the series since the original comics, however, it leaves a sense of disappointment that they will not see the major characters they previously enjoyed.
While the first three films depicted showdowns among individuals obsessed with winning, this work expands into a "revenge drama between rivals" centered around "friendship." Jang Taeyoung and Park Taeyoung were the closest of friends, sharing even the same name. Friendship turns to revenge when one man strips the other of everything. Envy and resentment toward a friend—feelings anyone might have experienced at least once—serve as the starting point of the story.
The scale of the gambling is also the largest in the series. Moving across South Korea, Japan, and Vietnam, gamblers from all over the world gather in one place. A key point to watch is how the showdown between the two friends will unfold amidst unfamiliar opponents.
Original author Huh Young-man picked "Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub" as his favorite story among his series. Director Choi Kook-hee stated, "I made this knowing it is the final 'Tazza' series, and I really wanted to make it well," adding, "Great actors and staff gathered, and the production process was wonderful. You can look forward to it a lot."
Byun Yohan, who played the protagonist Jang Taeyoung, remarked, "The 'Tazza' series is ultimately a work about humans, and whether it is hwatu or poker, those are just tools," hinting at the birth of a film that adult audiences can relate to and enjoy.
"Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub" opens on September 23.
(SBS Entertainment News, Reporter Kim Ji-hye)
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