An absorbing, enigmatic yet confusing tale as a dead body is discovered at the bottom of a mountain cliff. Did he fall, jump – or was he pushed?
The detective put in charge, Jang Hae-joon (Park Hae-il – Memories of Murder, The Host), believes this was no accident and begins to suspect the dead man’s wife, Seo-rae (Tang Wei – Lust Caution, Blackhat). But as he investigates further, he finds himself trapped by the desire he feels for the alluring Seo-rae and the inevitability of deception.
More a romance disguised as police procedural, Decision to Leave is a drawn out narrative from writer/director Park Chan-wook (The Handmaiden, Stoker). Sadly, in spite of its beguiling murder mystery premise with the detective falling in love with his prime suspect, the initial enthral slips into overlong obscurity and tedium.
Rating: 58%
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