Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.5

Decision to Leave Blu-ray Movie Review

"I went through hell because of you. But without you, my life would be empty."

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown March 8, 2024

A man falls to his death from a mountain peak in South Korea, begging the question: accident, suicide or foul play? A slip, a jump or a push? With that seemingly simple trio of choices, detective Hae-joon (Park Hae-il, Memories of Murder) enters the scene, taking on a case that couldn't possibly involve a second party... yet leaving him with the strangest suspicion that the dead man's wife, Seo-rae (Tang Wei, Lust Caution), had something to do with her husband's untimely death. But as Hae-joon investigates further, he finds himself drawn to Seo-rae so strongly that he surprises even himself, crossing lines and bending rules as he pulls against the webs of deception and desire in which he seems to be trapped. Directed by Park Chan-wook, written by the filmmaker and Chung Seo-kyeong, with stark, haunting cinematography courtesy of Kim Ji-yong, the film also stars Lee Jung-hyun, Go Kyung-pyo, Park Yong-woo, Kim Shin-young, Jung Yi-seo and Seo-Hyun Woo.

Click here to read a full review of Decision to Leave, a slow-boil game of cat and mouse that twists as often as it turns but does so with almost serpentine shrewdness and disarming guile.

Decision to Leave Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The standard Blu-ray release of Decision to Leave features a striking 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer that's almost, almost as noteworthy as its 4K counterpart. The difference? The 4K presentation offers noticeably increased detail, more richly resolved colors, and an ever so slightly more proficient encode. If that sounds like a negative mark against the BD, don't misunderstand: almost everything the 4K transfer improves is by way of the format's benefits, not more care being invested in the disc itself. MUBI has done a fantastic job, granting the film beautiful colors, flawless contrast leveling, deep blacks and bright primaries, as well as wonderfully lifelike skin tones. Detail is excellent too, with crisp edges, refined textures and clever delineation that reveals just as much -- or just as little -- as it's meant to reveal. Moreover, artifacting, banding and errant noise is nowhere to be found. Only a hint of crush in the darkest scenes holds this one back from perfection. Filmfans will be more than pleased with the presentation MUBI delivers and more than happy with how close it comes to matching its 4K counterpart.

Decision to Leave Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

It would be easy to pass over MUBI's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track with lesser praise, but that wouldn't convey just how effective Decision to Leave's lossless experience is. Dialogue is clean, clear and intelligible at all times, even when hushed or whispered. Likewise, ambient effects, however subtle they sometimes may be, create a convincing sense of place and space, whether it be in an apartment, a larger home, a windy clifftop, a bustling marketplace or a beach complete with crashing waves. The rear speakers are active and engaging at all times, even if only to add a small buzz or florescent light hum into an interrogation scene. On other occasions they spring to more obvious life, allowing tense scenes to accentuate the suspense or desperation of its characters. LFE output is subdued, yes, but also exactly whatever it's called upon to be. There are moments of aggression and the low-end channel handles each superbly. Dynamics are terrific and both the quietest and loudest sequences in the film are handled with the utmost respect for the filmmakers' intentions.

Decision to Leave Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• NYFF Talks: Park Chan-Wook (HD, 47 minutes) - A lengthy, insightful interview with filmmaker Park Chan-wook (using a translator) at the 60th New York Film Festival. The interview is presented in its entirety, uncut, though I would've preferred the bits with the translator had been removed (replaced with subtitles) to make the conversation between the director and moderator feel more natural and between two parties.

• Behind the Scenes Featurette (HD, 3 minutes) - More of a brief extended trailer.

• Interview with the Director (HD, 6 minutes) - This second interview with Park Chan-wook is shorter, quicker to the point and less comprehensive than the NYFF chat. More clip-heavy EPK than deep dive, it's fairly skippable.

• Park Chan-Wook and Bong Joon Ho Q&A (HD, 29 minutes) - After twenty-nine years, Park Chan-wook and director Bong Joon Ho (Memories of Murder, The Host, Snowpiercer) reunite via Zoom and discuss their craft (and Decision to Leave of course).

• Behind the Scenes in Cannes (HD, 2 minutes)

• VFX Reel (HD, 4 minutes)

Decision to Leave Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Decision to Leave is an incredibly subdued film, yet somehow just as powerful as Park Chan-wook's splashier thrillers, a la Oldboy. Confident, deliberate and tense, it's a romance wrapped in moral quandary and murder, asking questions it's poor protagonist struggles to answer. MUBI's standard Blu-ray release is just as easy to recommend too, thanks to a striking 1080p video transfer, an excellent DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, and a solid selection of bonus content. A commentary or two would have gone the extra mile but there's plenty here to make this a must own for fans of Park Chan-wook and South Korean cinema... or really anyone who enjoys a good flick.