Netflix’s Mantis takes us back into the deadly world we first encountered in Kill Boksoon. The 2025 South Korean thriller stars Im Si-wan, Park Gyu-young, and Jo Woo-jin in a story that’s both brutal and emotionally complex. The performances feel raw and genuine throughout.
When Han-ul comes back from his break, everything has fallen apart. The assassination business is in chaos, old friendships are broken, and everyone’s fighting for survival. What follows is a story about ambition, betrayal, and the price of being the best.
What Really Happens in Mantis’s Final Act
The movie builds to an incredible showdown between Han-ul, Jae-yi, and Dok-go inside MK ENT’s headquarters. Benjamin orchestrated this entire mess by tricking everyone with a bloody knife scheme. He wanted them to destroy each other completely.
The three-way battle was inevitable after all the lies and manipulation. I watched this sequence with my heart pounding – the choreography was phenomenal. Each character had their own reasons for fighting, making it deeply personal.
Jae-yi ends up killing Dok-go in the most shocking moment of the film. While Han-ul damaged his old teacher badly, Jae-yi made the killing blow. Years of resentment finally exploded in that moment.
Why Everything Fell Apart After Kill Boksoon
The whole mess started because Boksoon destroyed MK ENT’s leadership in the previous film. She killed both Min-kyu and his sister Min-hee who ran the company. Since they controlled most assassination contracts, their deaths broke everything.
Countless assassins lost their jobs when MK ENT collapsed. Han-ul was just one of many trying to survive in this new landscape. He started his own small operation with friends from the old days.
But building something bigger meant getting powerful sponsors. That’s where everything went wrong. Trust became impossible when everyone wanted to be in charge. The business turned into a war zone.
Jae-yi’s Hidden Motivation Throughout the Story
Jae-yi never got over being rejected by MK ENT years ago. They had to choose between her and Han-ul for the top position. When they picked Han-ul, she was kicked out entirely.
Dok-go worried about her anger and thought she might hurt Han-ul eventually. That rejection planted something dark inside her. She spent years planning her comeback to prove everyone wrong.
Her friendship with Han-ul became complicated by this obsession. Nothing else mattered except becoming number one. Every decision she made led toward this final confrontation where she could finally prove herself.
Benjamin’s Master Plan Behind the Scenes
Benjamin wanted total control of the assassination industry for himself. When Han-ul’s team asked him for help, he made demands they couldn’t accept. Most walked away, which made him angry.
His revenge plan was brilliant and terrifying. Benjamin manipulated all three fighters by exploiting their existing problems. He wanted them to kill each other while he took over everything.
He understood their weaknesses perfectly and used them against each other. Benjamin nearly succeeded in eliminating every threat to his power. His psychological manipulation was the real weapon here.
Han-ul’s Tragic Hope for Friendship
Even knowing something was wrong, Han-ul believed Jae-yi would choose him over Dok-go. His gut told him otherwise, but his heart overruled his brain. This shows how much he truly cared about her.
Han-ul’s loyalty never wavered despite all the warning signs. When she attacked both him and Dok-go, his heartbreak was visible. I felt sorry for him in that moment.
His genuine care for friends became his biggest weakness. Han-ul couldn’t imagine that Jae-yi would completely abandon their history. The betrayal cut deeper because he trusted her completely.
The Aftermath of Dok-go’s Violent End
Jae-yi felt immediate remorse after killing the man who trained her. She realized her obsession had led to this terrible moment. The guilt hit her like a truck instantly.
She finally understood that Han-ul was trying to help all along, not look down on her. His assessments of people were accurate and came from caring, not arrogance.
Han-ul left quietly after seeing Jae-yi’s emotional state. He knew she needed time alone to process everything. Even after the betrayal, he still cared enough to give her space.
Jae-yi’s Rise to Ultimate Power
The movie ends with Jae-yi running both MK ENT and JB Entertainment. She achieved her dream of controlling the assassination world. But winning came at an enormous personal cost to her soul.
Her victory feels hollow because she lost everything that mattered. Success tastes bitter when you destroy friendships to get it. The crown is heavy when you wear it alone.
Jae-yi can reshape the entire industry now according to her vision. But the people who might have celebrated with her are gone. Power without connection feels meaningless and cold.
Benjamin’s Likely Fate Revealed
In the final scenes, Jae-yi contracts Han-ul to eliminate Benjamin. This move makes perfect sense strategically for both characters. Benjamin’s scheming made him too dangerous to leave alive.
His manipulation destroyed too many lives for anyone to trust him again. Getting rid of Benjamin protects everyone in the business. Han-ul has every reason to complete this job successfully.
The film doesn’t show his death directly, leaving room for surprises. But logically, Benjamin probably dies since he has no allies left. His scheming finally caught up with him permanently.
Future Possibilities for Han-ul and Jae-yi
Their relationship appears permanently changed but not completely finished. Professional cooperation might continue even if personal friendship is broken. Both need flexible arrangements in their work.
Time might heal some wounds between them eventually. Jae-yi hiring Han-ul suggests she still trusts his skills. Maybe they can rebuild something new from the wreckage.
Their dynamic could drive future stories in interesting directions. The foundation exists for complex storytelling about forgiveness, redemption, and moving forward. I’d love to see where this goes next.
Setting Up the Next Chapter
Jae-yi controls everything while Han-ul stays independent but connected. This creates perfect tension for future conflicts and storylines. The power balance remains delicate and interesting to explore.
Benjamin’s potential survival adds another layer of possible complications ahead. These story threads provide rich material for expanding the franchise. The world feels alive and full of possibilities.
The ending leaves viewers wanting more while providing satisfying closure. This universe has room to grow in many different directions. I’m excited to see what comes next in this deadly world.
