In this sublime, Hitchcockian noir thriller from Park Chan-wook (The Handmaiden), a detective gets a little too close to the murder he’s trying to solve.
Busan Detective Hae-joon (Park Hae-il) is happily married, although work means spending too much time apart from his wife. When a climber’s body is found, suspicious photos on his phone lead to a murder investigation, and lead Hae-joon to the man’s young wife, Seo-rae (an entrancing Tang Wei) and a stakeout of her home.
But even as her alibi clears her, Hae-joon finds himself unable to end his surveillance. Is this his detective’s instinct, or something more? His questioning of Seo-rae at the police station reveals an evident chemistry between them, but it’s unclear whether she is genuine in her behaviour or cleverly manipulating the detective.
Director Park has crafted a mystery plotted with virtuoso aplomb – one breathless, twisting story-turn after another. Every shot is marked by its boldness and visual beauty, while the intricacy of the details on display complement the ingeniously crafted plot. At its centre are the powerful performances of Tang Wei and Park Hae-il. Decision to Leave finds director Park working at the dizzying peak of his powers.
Screening as part of the 66th BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express
