Escape (2024 | Korea | 94 minutes | Lee Jong-pil)
From the moment we meet him, Sergeant Lim Gyu-nam (Lee Jee-hoon) is desperate to find a way out of North Korea and into a seemingly promised land to the South. Planning for what seemed like years, he has his route mapped and a thought-out plan to escape while he’s still in the military with familiar surroundings and path out. On the cusp of action, a fellow soldier Dong-hyuk (Hong Xa-bin) discovers his plan and wants to join, throwing everything off. Gyu-nam is colored a hero by high-ranking childhood friend Major Hyeon-sang (Koo Kyo-hwan) after “finding the deserter” Dong-hyuk. The major doesn’t trust him, but has an odd concern for him at the same time. Finding another opportunity to flee, Gyu-nam snatches it and manages to pull Dong hyuk along with him. With Hyeon-sang hot at his heels, every move has to be the right one and the closer he gets to the demarcation line, the more desperate Gyu-nam becomes.
The tension Director Lee creates throughout the film is palpable, but not overwhelming. Having recently watched a few thriller/action films that literally gave you no respite, I have come to appreciate moments of levity. While there is no laughter to be found in such a heavy storyline, there are moments of sweetness and humanity that pulls you in to the story. The acting by the two leads, while at odds with each other and yet have a kind of twisted bond, was fantastic. While Koo’s Heyon-sang seemed to be completely unhinged at times, you know that there is always a sane thought process that goes through him with each action. The complexity of the two characters is thoughtful and well-portrayed in every scene.
The only downside for me is how convoluted the script gets at times with all the different side-stories. The major has a hidden proclivity that seems to muddy the waters a bit even if it is probably meant to inform his terrible wrath as well as empathy for Gyu-nam. It explains his own desperation for a different life, but it could have been left out and not lost a whole lot of character depth. Adding in a secondary escapee didn’t seem super helpful to the plot either other than adding complications to the escape plan. Something smaller that didn’t complicate the storyline would have kept our eyes on the two leads and not distracted with extra details. While I liked Dong-hyuk as a character, the acting wasn’t strong enough to make him a rich part of the story. That being said, it is well-worth your time for the two leads alone and I’ll keep my eye on these two in future projects.
Escape arrives in theaters on 7/5 for a quick run