Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub 2026 Movie Review Trailer

In 2006, Choi Dong-hoon launched an unexpected franchise with *Tazza: The High Rollers*—a South Korean film that became iconic for that era and is frequently cited by fans as one of the country’s most entertaining movies. Since that initial adaptation of the original *webtoon*, the franchise has expanded over the decades to include numerous sequels and television series. 

It is clear that *Tazza* has grown significantly, with new cinematic installments appearing from time to time. While I have yet to see *One-Eyed Jacks*, I am a fan of both Choi’s original film and its first follow-up, *The Hidden Card* (2014), directed by Kang Hyeong-cheol. How does *Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub* compare to its predecessors? Let’s place a bet and find out.

Director: Kook-Hee Choi
Writers: Se-young Kim, Heo Yeong-man
Stars: Byun Yo-han, Roh Jae-won, Ayaka Miyoshi

Jang Tae-Young (Byun Yo-Han) is an exceptionally cunning and intelligent man who decides to set up a gambling business. To do so, he recruits his friend Park Tae-Young (Roh Jae-Won), a poker prodigy. Although Park possesses superior talent, he always feels inferior to Jang, who has an innate ability to take major risks—and, in the long run, reap enormous rewards. However, Park eventually betrays his partner, leaving him in total ruin. Without giving away any spoilers, the story evolves into a tale of revenge: Jang seeks to get back in the game and uncover the truth behind the sudden predicament in which he has found himself.

The result, while somewhat uneven in tone, offers an entertaining experience that fans of the franchise will surely appreciate. Since the films do not share characters, it is very easy for someone unfamiliar with the saga to jump right into this installment. One of the film’s strong points is the performance of the actor playing Jang; Although he isn’t a particularly likable character at first, it’s hard not to root for him as he fights tooth and nail to escape his own personal hell. 

The actor tackles this role of redemption with great skill and a truly admirable range. The film’s technical aspects are as solid as one has come to expect from this franchise; it features superbly edited sequences and impeccable lighting, which perfectly set the stage for its numerous—simultaneously sordid and entertaining—gambling scenes. These range from elegant casinos and televised championships to a seedy boat, thick with cigarette smoke and faces etched with tension. It’s fantastic!

Where *Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub* falls short, in my view, is in its occasionally jarring shifts in tone. There is even a completely bizarre dream sequence that employs creative—yet highly unfortunate—digital effects; it caught me off guard, eliciting an unexpected burst of laughter and, quite frankly, pulling me right out of the film. Furthermore, while I find the backstory regarding Park to be a fascinating concept, it is poorly executed. Additionally, the performance of the mother in that particular scene is so shrill and over-the-top that, once again, I found myself ejected from a narrative that is otherwise quite compelling. 

I know the work is based on a *webtoon*—which I’ve heard great things about, though I’ve never read it—but the film doesn’t seem to fully commit to the kind of flamboyant style that would allow such moments to feel natural. The movie oscillates between a subtle, minimalist tone, a graphic-novel aesthetic, and various comedic or endearing beats. By comparison, the first two installments in the saga had a much cooler, more sophisticated vibe—a quality that is, frankly, absent here. 

The film moves entirely away from that essence, though it must be said that there are aspects it handles with great success. The international cast and a plot that unfolds across several countries add a distinctive touch, giving *Beelzebub* a unique feel that keeps the experience visually varied and entertaining. The English dialogue doesn’t always sound natural—in some passages, the use of dubbed audio (ADR) is quite noticeable—though, while worth mentioning, it’s not something I found particularly bothersome. 

The gambling scenes are shot with great style, and the soundtrack accompanying these moments undoubtedly intensifies the excitement of each game. You feel as though you’re right in the middle of the action, and it’s easy to follow the progression of the scenes without needing to be an expert in card games; the film deserves significant credit for making its core games so accessible. In these sequences, the movie perfectly captures that signature, "cool" style of *Tazza*—a quality that, otherwise, seems somewhat absent. Despite some unevenness, the execution of the action is flawless throughout, and it is precisely here that the film shines brightest. The conclusion is excellent, and seeing how all the pieces fall into place feels very much in the classic *Tazza* style.

While this fourth installment in the franchise doesn’t reinvent the formula or take the saga...

Watch Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub 2026 Movie Trailer