Key takeaways
- Tazza 4 premieres September 23 with Byun Yo Han and Roh Jae Won as betrayed and betrayer reunited for a high-stakes revenge saga.
- Unlike previous installments, the film focuses intensely on the psychological fracture between two former friends rather than the broader gambling underworld.
- The subtitle references medieval card mythology: Beelzebub represents a once-powerful demon reduced to a dung fly after losing everything in a wager.
- Director Choi Kook Hee pursued the project after original creator Heo Young Man identified 'The Song of Beelzebub' as his manga's most compelling narrative arc.
Following six years away from theaters, the “Tazza” franchise returns with a new chapter that promises to reshape the series’ identity. “Tazza 4: The Song of Beelzebub” officially confirmed its theatrical premiere for September 23, positioning itself strategically the day before Chuseok, Korea’s most significant national holiday and a traditionally competitive period for film releases.
Plot and Character Dynamics
The narrative centers on Jang Tae Young, portrayed by Byun Yo Han, an ambitious entrepreneur who has engineered a thriving empire within the online gambling sector. Years of calculated moves and strategic partnerships have positioned him at the apex of this lucrative underworld. That dominance faces existential threat when Park Tae Young, his closest companion since childhood, orchestrates a coup that dismantles everything. The second protagonist, played by Roh Jae Won, doesn’t merely betray Jang Tae Young—he assumes complete control of the entire operation, reducing his former friend to dispossession.
The storyline then introduces fate as an active force. Circumstance brings the fractured pair together again, this time within the arena of international high-stakes gambling. What unfolds is not reconciliation but escalating confrontation. The two former allies engage in an intensifying series of games where each round carries higher personal and financial costs. Vengeance becomes the primary motivation, transforming a story about betrayal into one about the consuming need for retribution and restoration of honor.
Creative Development and Production Vision
The Director’s Commitment
Director Choi Kook Hee spearheaded the project following a significant creative consultation. His appointment to helm this installment represented a deliberate choice to steer the franchise in a new direction. When designing the film’s approach, Choi Kook Hee emphasizes psychological depth and character complexity, though the global gambling setting certainly allows for visual sophistication.
The Original Creator’s Influence
Heo Young Man, the cartoonist behind the source material, provided direct input during the early development stage. His evaluation of which story arc deserved cinematic treatment proved decisive. Heo Young Man specifically championed “The Song of Beelzebub” as the most narratively rich chapter within his larger manga series, questioning aloud why such substantive source material had remained unadapted for so long. This straightforward inquiry resonated powerfully with Choi Kook Hee. The director recalled the moment, noting, “I remember him asking why such a good comic wasn’t being adapted. That made me think I had to make it even better.” This exchange crystallized the director’s commitment not simply to faithfully adapt the comic but to elevate it, bringing additional dimensions that would justify the extended wait since the previous film.
Decoding the Title’s Rich Symbolism
Medieval European Card Mythology
The subtitle “The Song of Beelzebub” doesn’t emerge from arbitrary choice but draws directly from the original manga and carries theological and historical weight. Medieval European religious authorities regarded playing cards with suspicion bordering on alarm. Clerical figures viewed them as instruments through which demonic forces corrupted human conduct. Each suit became coded with specific moral failures:
- Hearts represented unbridled desire and lust
- Diamonds channeled greed and material obsession
- Clubs signified violence and brutality
This symbolic framework embedded itself deeply in European culture and remained influential even as cards became ubiquitous entertainment.
Demonic Hierarchy in the Spade Suit
The spade suit occupied a uniquely ominous position within this symbolic system. Rather than representing a general moral vice, each of the 13 spades carried the name of a specific demon from theological texts. The Ace of Spades held special significance as the card of Lucifer, the archangel cast into eternal damnation for rebellion. Below him in the demonic hierarchy came the Two of Spades, assigned to Beelzebub. According to medieval Christian demonology, Beelzebub once ruled hell before succumbing to catastrophic defeat. The legend describes him losing everything in a cosmic wager—a gambling match against forces beyond his comprehension or control. His punishment for that loss was degradation: transformation into a dung fly, a creature of filth and insignificance, the ultimate reversal from his former station.
Narrative Parallels and Thematic Resonance
Roh Jae Won provided direct insight into the profound connection between the medieval mythology and his character’s personal journey. According to the actor, “The film unfolds as Park Tae Young tells the story of two demons gambling with everything they have, with the defeated Beelzebub turning into a dung fly.” This metaphor fundamentally transforms what could be straightforward revenge into something approaching classical tragedy. The defeated party, like Beelzebub in legend, doesn’t merely lose wealth but faces utter degradation—transformation into something beneath contempt, a shell of former glory. This theological framework suggests that certain losses become irreversible, governed by rules as absolute as cosmic law.
A Departure from the Series Formula
The first three “Tazza” installments explored the broader gambling underworld with ensemble casts and sprawling narratives focused on competition within defined hierarchies. “Tazza 4” narrows its scope considerably. Rather than distributing narrative attention across numerous operators and competing factions, the film centralizes the relationship between two individuals. The friendship that undergirds their conflict becomes as significant as the battles themselves. This psychological emphasis marks a substantial tonal shift. Previous films asked “Who will dominate the gambling world?” This chapter asks “What does betrayal cost the betrayed?” and explores whether revenge can ever truly restore what was lost.
Chuseok Positioning and Industry Strategy
The September 23 release date places “Tazza 4” directly within the fall festival cinema window. Chuseok, beginning September 24, historically draws massive domestic audiences to theaters. Releasing the day before the holiday guarantees maximum initial visibility and establishes the film as a must-see title during the nationwide celebration period. This release strategy acknowledges both the franchise’s existing fanbase and the broadest possible demographic reach during one of cinema’s most lucrative windows in Korean exhibition.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Tazza 4: The Song of Beelzebub releasing?
The film premieres on September 23, positioned the day before Chuseok.
What is the basic plot of the film?
Jang Tae Young, portrayed by Byun Yo Han, built a thriving online gambling empire, but his childhood friend Park Tae Young (Roh Jae Won) betrays and strips him of everything. When fate brings them together in the world of international gambling, they engage in an escalating war of revenge.
What does the subtitle refer to?
The subtitle draws from medieval European demonology concerning playing cards. Beelzebub was once a powerful ruler of hell who lost everything in a cosmic wager and was reduced to a dung fly—a parallel to the film's themes of devastating loss and irreversible degradation.
