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By Kristy Puchko on October 14, 2022 Share on Facebook (opens in a new window) Share on Twitter (opens in a new window) Share on Flipboard (opens in a new window) Credit: TIFF -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Entertainment > Movies A pitch-black sense of humor lurks in the heart of Park Chan-wook's latest thriller, Decision to Leave. This will come as no surprise to fans of the South Korean filmmaker, who makes tales of murder, incest, betrayal, and suicide attempts the stuff of twisted romance and even more twisted visual gags. From Oldboy to Stoker to The Handmaiden, Park has mastered the art of coaxing out grim chuckles from viewers — the kind of laugh that escapes the lips, even as the face pinches into a wince of horror. Through this dark lens, he has crafted a fascinating thriller that plays like Hitchcock and feels like Park's version of a romantic comedy. Co-written by Park and frequent collaborator Jeong Seo-Gyeong (The Handmaiden, Thirst), Decision to Leave's will-they-won't-they couple seems plucked straight from a film noir. He's a big city detective tasked with solving murder mysteries. She's the merry widow of a man who died in a bizarre mountain-climbing event — and the prime suspect. Hitchcock might have cast Cary Grant and one of his cool blonde ingenues as the apparent femme fatale. As director, Park has chosen Park Hae-il (The Host, Memories of Murder), who plays inspector Hae-jun with a world-weariness that tugs at his shoulders, wrinkles his suit, and weighs on his every line delivery. That is, until he meets her. Then, there's a fire in his eyes that ignites his spirit. SEE ALSO: 'Decision to Leave' trailer stirs award season buzz with Park Chan-wook's triumphant return DECISION TO LEAVE IS WEIRDLY AND DELECTABLY ROMANTIC. Credit: TIFF Meek, beatific Seo-rae (Tang Wei) doesn't seem like a killer; behind her long lashes lies the angel face of a respected eldercare worker. But beneath her conservative clothing lies bruises, and with them the motive of a battered wife who may have had enough. But did she have the opportunity to scale a mountain and push her lout of a husband off of it? It's cases like this that keep Hae-jun up at night with relentless insomnia that bends his reality. Swiftly, she becomes his new obsession, and much more than a suspect. She may be a murderer, but there's no denying their chemistry, albeit one with an edge typical of Park's onscreen romances. It begins over a shared fascination by grisly photographs of violence, and deepens when she lifts her skirts so he can photograph her injuries for evidence. Their first "date" is in the intimacy of the interrogation room, where he's laid out a decadent sushi platter to feast upon. (Meanwhile, his dopey buddy/partner looks on in mugging jealousy over this flush of food-linked affection.) As their relationship heats up, their path of seduction veers more unnervingly into the unusual — including sequences where he imagines himself with her in flushed fantasy sequences. And it's exhilarating, especially when it seems to derail. SEE ALSO: 20 movies we can't wait to see this fall DECISION TO LEAVE IS A TOP-NOTCH THRILLER. Credit: TIFF Playing with such familiar figures of noir wouldn't be enough for Park. So, roundabouts the film's midpoint, the whodunnit is solved, and a new angle emerges. Park purposefully pitches us off the map he himself drew for us, driving into the unknown at an assured clip while sizzling spectacles of sex, violence, murder, and mystery unfurl anew. Park Hae-il is riveting as a storied detective knocked back on his heels by love, while his overzealous protege serves as a buzzing comic relief. But Tang Wei dazzles as a woman who refuses to be pinned down by this lovestruck man or his need for black-and-white descriptors. When they speak, it's with an intimacy so profound that it feels like we are eavesdropping. When they face off, it's impossible to predict who might come out on top. Theirs is not just a battle of wits, but of wills and devotion. The mountains trekked and beaches traversed are a landscape littered with pillow talk and perturbing truths. And once this journey comes to its beautiful and bittersweet end, like Park's best works, you'll want to go back to the start and see it all again. DECISION TO LEAVE IS AMONG PARK CHAN-WOOK'S BEST FILMS. Credit: TIFF Park's thriller is slicked with sweat, ash, and blood. Whether in sleepless Seoul or the relentlessly cloudy countryside, he stages scenes with a meticulously off-kilter perspective that urges the audience out of complacency. We're not just watching a movie. Our heads are cocked to the side in thought, trying desperately to crack the case alongside Hae-Jun. Like him, we're caught up in the glorious beauty and the captivating gaze of Seo-rae. The film's framing often sets these would-be lovers side by side, but Park creates a visual contrast using blocking and focus to remind us of the conflict at the center of their meet-cute. A swanning score plays like a swooning mix of warning and wonder. Then, visual gags that make violence feel like a lark or depravity a gift urge us to cackle in the dark of the theater. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RELATED STORIES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * 20 movies we can't wait to see this fall * Park Chan-wook's new short film, shot on iPhone 13 Pro, is a wild ride * 11 best thrillers on HBO Max to frazzle your nerves * BTS will be required to enlist in South Korean military * Netflix isn't trying to make you love romcoms again – because it knows you never stopped With all this, Park weaves a web of intrigue, intimacy, and evil that is as seductive as it is harrowing. And remarkably, within all that darkness, there's a determined thread of comedy that urges us to grin even as our jaws drop in shock. Decision to Leave was reviewed out if its North American Premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival. The movie is now in theaters. UPDATE: Sep. 27, 2022, 6:49 a.m. EDT A previous version of this review incorrectly shortened "Park Chan-wook " to "Chan-wook" rather than "Park." We apologize for the error. 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Here are some tips and tricks to help you find the answer. 11 hours ago By Mashable Team -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The 'House of the Dragon' prophecy in episode 9 you may have missed We need to stop ignoring Helaena. 3 hours ago By Sam Haysom -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Black hole vomits years after gobbling up a star A stellar meal that didn't sit well. 21 hours ago By Elisha Sauers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' doesn't outright tell us who the Stranger is — but we have a good guess The Stranger's identity is all but confirmed. 10/15/2022 By Belen Edwards The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox. Loading... 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