Exit is an entertaining, fast-paced and quirky South Korean action movie with suspenseful, romantic and humorous elements. It tells the story of a gifted rock climber who hasn't managed to get a permanent job or find a stable girlfriend and is seen as the family's black sheep. He wants to redeem himself by organizing his mother's seventieth birthday at a company where his former crush works as an assistant manager. On the night of festivities, a man who has recently lost his job has a metldown, unleashes a deadly gas in downtown Seoul and commits suicide. The entire sector needs to be evacuated but the gas is soon present in the streets and rising higher with every minute. The unemployed rock climber and his former crush try to evacuate the guests of the festivities and bring them to safety on the roof of a skyscraper. They manage to save their guests as a rescue helicopter arrives but they are unable to get on board themselves. They must try to find their way through the evacuated sector from roof to Roof on their own. On their dangerous journey, they save other helpless citizens, unknowingly become heroes on local media and realize that they still have feelings for each other.
This movie convinces on numerous levels. After an introduction that takes about twenty minutes, the film develops a frantic pace that keeps the audiences on its seats until the final five minutes conclude this blockbuster smoothly. The locations in downtown Seoul are quite diversified and intriguing. The stunts and special effects are done with great care and precision. The camera work is focused ans smooth. The two protagonists become more interesting with every scene as the audience ends up rooting for them until the very end. The decently employed suspenseful, romantic and humorous elements blend in very well without watering down the gripping action scenes.
Exit might not come around with a particularly surprising plot and doesn't reinvent the action movie genre. It's however executed with the highest contemporary quality, features sympathetic lead characters and convinces with entertaining action scenes that will take your breath away. Fans of action movies, disaster films or South Korean cinema in general should watch this blockbuster which received the credit it deserved in its home country but has been unfairly overlooked internationally so far. If you like what you see, recommend it to your family and friends and give them the opportunity to experience the beauty of contemporary South Korean cinema as well.
