Film Review — Decision to Leave
★★★★★
A workaholic detective investigating the death of a mountain climber begins to develop feelings for the deceased’s mysterious immigrant wife.
Hammer-smashing his way into the upper echelons of the global scene almost two decades ago, Park Chan-wook has once again affirmed his position as one of East Asia’s all-time great filmmaking exports.
Decision to Leave might lack the raw shock factor that drew so many to his works in the first place, but that doesn’t make it any less irresistible. Leaning heavily into Hitchcockian influences, Chan-wook has crafted a labyrinthian mystery thriller filled with delightful twists and wordplay. It’s also sexy as hell with Tang Wei and Park Hae-il’s superb chemistry making for one of 2022’s best romantic pairings.
If for some reason, the story lacks the bite you’ve come to expect from Chan-wook, the presentation should more than atone. As to be expected from one of Korea’s finest, this is a masterwork in kinetic filmmaking, an enthralling immersion into a wildly unpredictable thriller that should keep you deeply engrossed from the first shot to its hauntingly beautiful finale.
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