Decision to Leave

A melancholically melodramatic (un)romantic (un)thriller, of the "better talked about than watched" variety, mainly because of the unjustified running time during the second half. Not even the precise actors and Park's traditionally playful direction can balance it. (14.07.2022)

A strangely static Park variation on Basic Instinct, where I found at the end that I was focused on something other than what I should have been the whole time. Then I completely resonated with the last shot. PS: "After Parasite and Squid Game, another Korean phenomenon is taking the world by storm." – Man, it that really the best we can do? (19.08.2022)

That Koreans are masters at mixing diverse genres in a functional way is nothing new, yet I was quite surprised at how comedic Decision to Leave ended up being. But thanks to that, it was a pleasant and brisk two and a quarter hours, definitely not a festival bore. The plot and its denouement have their own internal logic only to the extent that you, as the viewer, are willing to accept them under the influence of the atmosphere of the film, so if you don't tune into the film in the first half hour, you probably won't have much of an experience. Fortunately, I was able to. [KVIFF 2022] (16.07.2022)

This movie caused me quite a few problems while watching it. I grappled with the continuity of certain scenes, often getting lost in the deliberate chaos the director laid out. Thankfully, I managed to find my way back each time. On the whole, the film clicked for me. It triggered some nostalgia for my favorite Verhoeven and delivered a convincing, non-stereotypical romance that didn't grate on my nerves, topped off with a powerful ending. To sum it up, this movie easily earns four out of five stars from me. However, I can't help but feel it could've been even better if the director had trimmed down some of the unnecessary distractions (and by that, I don't mean the plot). / Lesson learned: It's nice to trust others, but sometimes you might end up with a knife in the kidney. (03.01.2023)

I was expecting a high-octane detective film with a hint of romance and plenty of plot twists... but unfortunately, the film turned out to be a slower, conversational drama. Chan-wook Park's unmistakable style is, on the other hand, undeniable. His meticulously crafted visuals are always a welcome sight, and he ranks among the top in Korean cinema for this category. However, the plot of Decision to Leave disappointed me. I wouldn’t fault the first two-thirds too much; Park blended drama and comedic elements skillfully and delivered a small surprise at the end of the first act. But everything that came after that (story-wise, 13 months later) felt completely unnecessary. And I honestly didn’t understand the very ending. Fans of Park's work might find it enjoyable, but I know he is capable of making much more engaging films. For me, it’s a 5.5/10. (16.08.2022)