Escape is a phenomenal thriller that provides the perfect combination of action and suspense with an incredible soundtrack as the cherry on top.
After completing his mandatory decade of military service, North Korean sergeant Kyu-nam (LEE Je-hoon) makes a shock attempt to defect to South Korea. With a map, a compass, and a desire to fail without consequence, Kyu-Nam is willing to risk everything to choose his destiny.
The film is incredible for several reasons. First off, the writing was fantastic. This is a great example of how a good story will always be paramount to a film’s success. CGI, casting, and other factors are important, but the story, the very soul of a film, is what matters most. But speaking of casting, the two main actors, LEE Je-hoon and KOO Kyo-hwan, were absolutely stunning. It’s a special project as it’s the first time the two actors have worked together onscreen.
The score was breathtaking. Dalpalan, who’s known for such films as Samjin Company English Class and Bad Movie, did an incredible job supplementing the film’s suspense with a soundtrack that invokes every emotion on the spectrum. From piano compositions that painted an audible tapestry to a flashback set to the tune of the infectious, “Yanghwa Bridge”, Dalpalan infuses the perfect blend of era-appropriate arrangements.
The film’s director, LEE Jong-pil, set out to show audiences that regardless of what’s holding them back (anxiety, fear, etc.), there’s still hope for a better future. After reading his director’s statement, it’s easy to see how this script fell into the right hands based on his film repertoire. Just before reading the script for Escape, LEE Jong-pil stumbled upon an article that detailed a young man’s escape from South Africa to England by stowing away with the landing gear. Such an act begged the question, “Why would someone go to such an extreme?” A few days later, a friend of his detailed how he wanted to quit his job and leave, making an emotional plea to continue (life) as he knew he wasn’t happy. So Escape isn’t merely a cinematic tale of a defector, it’s an exploration of the human desire to “escape”.
One detail that will go undetected by non-Korean speakers is the effort that went into linguistic authenticity. The production team hired a dialogue coach and a recent defector to modernize the language for the characters, focusing on current expressions rather than historical accuracy. A good example is about halfway through the film, Hyun-sang accuses Kyu-nam of being a “troll” (a common social reference to a person who intentionally antagonizes others).
Escape gets a 9.5 out of 10. The build-up and suspense are first-rate and the story is incredible. It’s not just a defector story, but a story of hope that doesn’t go off the rails. The tension between Kyu-nam and Hyun-sang could be felt through the screen and their acting was far beyond par. The only thing that bothered me was Kyu-nam’s decisions with one of his fellow soldiers Dong Hyeok (Hong Xa Bin) and how he handled a particular situation towards the end with Hyun-sang. But aside from that, it’s an incredible film that shows you don’t need extreme violence, profane language, or excessive gore to make a thriller.
Escape is in theaters now.
-Jon Jones
Photos: Courtesy of Well Go Entertainment