Derailed

Set in modern times, the film follows youths and criminals navigating the pressures of urban life. Technology, mobile phones, and fast-moving street life heighten the immediacy of the crimes and investigations. The tempo alternates between night-time escapes and high-stakes confrontations on rooftops and in bars.

The setting is a gritty urban landscape in contemporary Korea, where neon-lit karaoke bars, crowded streets, and dim back-alleys frame the characters' lives. Public spaces like train stations and apartment blocks become stages for pursuits, abductions, and confrontations. The city atmosphere reinforces the churn of poverty, crime, and urgency that drives the story.

🧭 Survival

Jin-il leads a gang of runaways who survive through petty crimes and opportunistic cons. The group relies on quick thinking and ruthless decisions to weather poverty and social neglect. The plot centers on how far they will go to stay alive, even when it means exploiting others.

👪 Family Bonds

The film foregrounds protective instincts and loyalty among troubled youths, especially Ga-young and Jin-il, who navigate trust, manipulation, and danger together. Family-like ties emerge in a world where adults exploit the vulnerable, and these bonds complicate choices. The pursuit underlined by Hyung-suk’s daughter shows how kinship and responsibility cross the boundary between crime and care.

⚖️ Justice

Police investigations intersect with the underworld's brutality, highlighting the blurred lines between law and crime. A sting operation exposes how corruption, fear, and leverage can derail attempts at justice. The ending leaves questions about accountability as the final rooftop confrontation unfolds.