Escape – Movie Review & Film Explained

Gyu Nam is a sergeant in the North Korean army. He secretly plans to flee his country's dictatorship and start a new life in the democratic country of South Korea. Each night, Gyu Nam carefully plots his escape route without anyone knowing. He uses a map, a pen, and a timer to navigate the dangerous minefields safely. His meticulous planning ensures Gyu Nam understands how to leave without being caught. After each session, he returns to the military base undetected.

Escaping from North Korea is a dangerous ordeal. The country enforces a ruthless policy on defectors, executing anyone who attempts to flee. Gyu Nam must act cautiously and keep his plans a secret. He pretends to be a loyal soldier during the day, while he finalizes his escape route at night. According to his calculations, he has only a couple of days left to complete his preparations and make his daring attempt at freedom.

Unfortunately, Gyu Nam is caught by Dong Hyuk, a lowly soldier in his unit who discovers his secret nighttime activities. Despite Gyu Nam's denials, Dong Hyuk surprises him by admitting that he also wants to defect. Dong Hyuk's mother and sister already live in South Korea, so he dreams of joining them. However, Gyu Nam refuses to cooperate or admit that he plans to escape. He plays dumb, pretending their conversation never happened. Still, Dong Hyuk is not satisfied.

To Gyu Nam's horror, Dong Hyuk steals his map and supplies by attempting to escape on his own. However, his lack of discretion alerts the entire unit to his desertion, sparking a massive manhunt. Gyu Nam finds him first and insists that the timing isn't right, as the escape route is incomplete. Their conversation is abruptly cut short when the other soldiers catch up to them. They assume the two are in cahoots, working together to defect. Gyu Nam is considered guilty due to his association with Dong Hyuk. The unit severely punishes both men.

Gyu Nam and Dong Hyuk are sentenced to execution. Hyun Sang, a high-ranking security officer who is secretly gay, steps in to save Gyu Nam. Gyu Nam's father used to work as a driver for Hyun Sang's family, so Hyun Sang takes pity on him. To justify his actions, Hyun Sang rebrands Gyu Nam as a loyal soldier who helped capture the defector. However, Gyu Nam's desire for freedom remains strong, and he secretly plans another escape.

Escape follows a straightforward premise. A North Korean soldier risks everything to flee to South Korea. What begins as a carefully planned exit escalates into a large-scale military manhunt. This 90-minute film is an action-packed journey filled with suspense, violence, and life-threatening danger. With a high budget and masterful cinematography, the film immerses viewers in its gripping sequences. Escape makes every moment of tension feel vividly real.

Some scenes can be exhilarating, as intense gunfire puts the protagonist in imminent danger. He shows quick thinking, ingenuity, and resourcefulness, surviving nail-biting situations despite being massively outnumbered. However, other encounters feel unrealistic. The odds against him are overwhelming, yet he has plot armour and gets saved by lucky coincidences. The contrived circumstances make it obvious the story manipulates logic to protect him. It reduces the suspense and cheapens the stakes since you can predict he'll always get out of the worst situations.

Escape is not a BL movie and has no romantic focus, but the central antagonist is implied to be gay. Despite being married to a pregnant wife, Hyun Sang represses his sexuality due to the strict cultural norms of North Korea. The film drops subtle hints about his backstory, teasing an unspoken attraction between him and another man. Their interactions are filled with ambiguous looks and cryptic conversations. Yet, nothing physical ever happens. As a mainstream South Korean film, it avoids confirming the ambiguously gay dynamic and only relies on subtext.

Imagine if Escape had the guts to include gay content. A flashback of Hyun Sang's past would show two North Korean men kissing in a Russian theatre. The epic moment would make this the movie of the year! Instead, the closest thing to BL is when Hyun Sang says, "I want to fuck him up" and I choose to omit the last word. That said, the film explores interesting thematic parallels between the two main characters. Hyun Sang, unable to live freely, directs his resentment toward Gyu Nam, who dares to defy his fate. The story cleverly intertwines their journeys.

Lee Je Hoon (Gyu Nam) carries Escape with a gripping performance. While his character is underdeveloped, he brings authenticity to emotions like fear, anguish, and desperation. Most of all, he captures Gyu Nam's resilience in the final stretch, making you root for his safety. His co-star (Koo Kyo Hwan) exudes a villainous flair as the antagonist. With an intense gaze that conveys ruthlessness, he strikes fear through his screen presence. Softer moments hint at Hyun Sang's vulnerability, reminding viewers that he also can't escape his circumstances.

Unsurprisingly, Escape saves its climax for the final moments. Gyu Nam comes so close to freedom that he can almost touch it with his fingertips, but of course, he remains in grave danger. The dramatic conclusion exhilarates me as a viewer. Overall, this decent action flick holds my attention for 90 minutes. However, the gay subplot feels underwhelming. Many films explore bolder LGBTQ+ themes than this movie, except they don't have the same mainstream platform. If you go into Escape expecting BL content, you'll leave disappointed by its lack of substance.