Exit (2019) [Film Review]

Exit; or, The Ultimate High!
     You really don’t get it! You think you are safe? You’re living inside a disaster. Earthquakes and tsunamis aren’t the only disasters, our lives are the very definition of disaster!
Exit marks the directorial debut of Lee Sang Geun. This disaster/action/comedy film became South Korea's third highest-grossing domestic production for the year 2019 (after Parasite and Extreme Job). In addition, it won in two categories at the 40th Blue Dragon Film Awards. Get your climbing gear out because we are going to take a leap of faith with Exit.
Release Info

Directed by: Lee Sang Geun Starring: Jo Jung Suk, Im Yoon Ah, Go Do Shim,

Language: Korean Original Title: 엑시트 Runtime: 103 min

Synopsis
Yong Nam (Jo Jung Suk) is an experienced rock climber who can’t find a job, so he is forced to live with his relatives. He fell in love with a fellow climber Eui Joo (Im Yoon Ah), but she basically friend-zoned him. A few years later, the two of them meet at Yong Nam’s mom's 70th birthday celebration at a prestigious party complex. In the meantime, a crazy scientist releases a toxic gas which engulfs the central district of Seoul and continues to expand upward. Eui Joo as well as Yong Nam and his family are stranded in a building. In order to save themselves and others, the two climbers join forces in order to get up as high as possible and signal for rescue.

Don’t Look Back and Run

The year 2019 was filled with many epic releases from Asian countries, but Exit somehow passed me by (I guess I was too consumed by the craze generated by Parasite). Still, I was more than aware of positive reviews, but in 2020, I was waiting for some good offer on digital platforms to check it out.

When I finally did see Exit, my mind was blown away. Finally, South Korea did a light-hearted action flick that ticks all the major points of an enjoyable summer blockbuster. I would even dare to classify Exit as a climbing film, even though the action is not set in the mountains but in a metropolis.

If you can recall Sylvester Stallone’s ridiculously pleasing Cliffhanger (1993), then please do know that Exit is a Cliffhanger on steroids. Thanks to a skilful mixture of practical effects and green screen, the main protagonists are ascending/descending and jumping from one building to another in order to avoid the deadly gas and stay alive. On top of that, the great script provides such a powerful sense of chemistry that I found myself cheering even for the supporting characters.

Without a doubt, Exit is a thrilling roller coaster with lots of (literally breathtaking) set pieces. My words of appraisal go to the main stars Jo Jung Suk and Im Yoon Ah who were so great together on the screen. Interestingly, Exit marks Im Yoon Ah’s second movie role after her appearance in Confidential Assignment (2017) (I knew I have seen her somewhere!). Jo Jung Suk, on the other hand, is always "Mr. Cool Guy."

 Recommendations
If you want to see a fast-paced disaster flick without too much drama and pathos, then Exit is the choice for you. Make sure to grab an HD copy to fully enjoy those stunning climb sequences. I know this is wishful thinking but we need a sequel or at least a similar flick made by the same filmmaking team ASAP!Overall score: 9/10

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