From Hwatu to Poker, From Korea to Global Stakes: First Press-Screening Review of ‘Tazza: Belzebub’s Song’ and Highlights From the Press Conference

A symbol of Korean adults-only entertainment cinema, the 〈Tazza〉 series returns for its final chapter, 〈Tazza: Belzebub's Song〉 (hereafter 〈Tazza 4〉), which opens on Sept. 23. The film trades hwatu for poker and moves much of its action from Korea to the global gambling circuit. It is a crime-action drama in which Jang Tae-young (Byun Yo-han) and his close friend Park Tae-young (Noh Jae-won), who share the same name and eventually takes everything from him, meet again on an international gambling stage and wage a game of revenge.

The film’s most noticeable change is its larger scale. 〈Tazza 4〉 leaves behind the worn hwatu mats that became a visual hallmark of the series and switches the game to poker (Hold'em), while expanding its setting beyond Korea to the global stage. What stands out is how the film preserves the Tazza series’ identity even as it grows. The master-and-student arc, homages to famous lines, its daring tone, and a finale where all the characters gather for one last game—fans of the series will find many welcome touches throughout.

At the heart of the film is the contrast between Jang Tae, who appears to have been born with everything, and Park Tae, who, driven by lack, becomes a self-made genius. Their Mozart-and-Salieri dynamic is the film’s clearest point of distinction. Yet the tangled emotional undercurrent of love, envy, jealousy and betrayal that binds them plays out a bit thin for a finale that aims to be emotionally satisfying. The film leaves you wishing their love-hate dynamic had been drawn more tightly. In addition, there is a barrier to entry: viewers unfamiliar with poker rules may find it hard to fully feel the tension at the table.

Still, 〈Tazza 4〉 remains squarely in the series’ wheelhouse as adults-only entertainment. Ahead of its Sept. 23 release, the film held a press screening and news conference on Sept. 9 at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Yongsan District, Seoul. Director Choi Guk-hee and actors Byun Yo-han and Noh Jae-won attended and spoke at the event.

Director Choi Guk-hee singled out what separates this installment from earlier entries. Choi said, "The original work already had the form of an entirely separate side story, and from the source the drama was much stronger and darker than in parts 1, 2 and 3. Human desire, envy and jealousy, and betrayal were well expressed there, so I tried to weave those elements into this film." On casting Byun Yo-han and Noh Jae-won, Choi said, "Jang Tae is an attractive character who seems to have been born with a lot, while Park Tae is someone who lacks something but proves himself through effort—a self-made genius. In combining those two types of actors, we arrived at these two performers."

Actor Byun Yo-han said he decided to join 〈Tazza 4〉 two hours after reading the script. He added that, once he accepted the role, he texted actor Jo Seung-woo. He also praised the chemistry he shared with Jo Woo-jin as they revived the master-and-student relationship, saying, "I didn't let myself be bound by parts 1, 2 and 3; I fully immersed myself in the moment. Senior actor Jo Woo-jin held the film’s balance firmly," and expressed deep gratitude. Byun, who lost 10 kilograms and performed an intimate scene, said he hopes Jo Seung-woo, who led the first Tazza, will tell him, "You worked hard; you gave it your all," as a sign of respect.

On the blend of love and hate that defines Jang Tae-young and Park Tae-young’s relationship, Noh Jae-won said, "Park Tae-young loves Jang Tae-young. They are two friends who adore each other. That was why it was the hardest challenge to figure out what kind of feeling would allow this friend to betray the other." He added that Byun Yo-han was the biggest help in building the feeling of envy toward a friend who felt like his alter ego. Making his first commercial-film leading role with 〈Tazza 4〉, Noh said, "Everything about senior actor Byun Yo-han looked good, I envied him and there were things I wanted to learn, and those aspects overlapped with Park Tae-young and helped me a lot." On the final showdown, he said, "Although it is a story of betrayal and revenge, there was also love from when they were friends, apologies, and anger. I thought of it as a scene that contains all those complex emotions when I acted it."

The casting backstory for rapper-turned-actor Moon Ji-hoon (Swings) was also revealed. It began when Byun Yo-han showed the director Moon Ji-hoon's acting video. Byun explained why he shared the clip: "I didn't want to ignore the courage of someone who's been at the top of their stage for 20 years stepping up to challenge acting." Choi said the video was "impressive because it showed instinctive acting rather than learned technique," and contacted him right away. Because Moon is more comfortable speaking English than Korean, Choi said they adjusted his role by reducing Korean lines and mixing in more English.

The film’s final showdown is staged on the top of Landmark 81 in Vietnam. When asked why he chose such a location for the two men’s last battle, Director Choi explained, "Because enormous stakes are on the line, I wanted the final game to take place in a fair, ring-like spot with surveillance cameras open on all sides."

The film 〈Tazza: Belzebub's Song〉 opens on Sept. 23.