Let it be clear: just because a movie debuted at a prestigious international film festival, it does not guarantee it’s without its flaws. This is certainly the case with “Emergency Declaration”, a Korean thriller that premiered at the 74th Cannes Film Festival last year.
While its cinematography and special effects are impressive enough, the script and story leave much to be desired.
Directed by Han Jae-rim, this US$19-million feature follows In-ho (Song Kang-ho), a cop who tries to stop a terrorist from destroying a plane from Seoul to Honolulu. To complicate matters, his wife conveniently happens to be aboard the craft, raising the personal stakes tremendously.
Without spoiling too much, the terrorist attack involves unleashing a deadly virus onboard the plane, forcing it to have to stay airborne.
Curiously, the film was written before the onset of the pandemic, with filming taking place during lockdowns. So you might experience a familiar sense of dread while watching it.
Otherwise, sad to say, “Emergency Declaration” is a cliché-ridden mess, despite its cast of A-listers who are not incapable of putting on a good show.
You have the psychopathic terrorist, Jin-Seok, played by Yim Si-wan, who exudes an appropriately creepy vibe despite his charming appearance.
Subtlety is not his character’s strong point, though, given how he ominously asks a ticket clerk which of the planes would be most crowded. He might as well start waving a red flag to let everyone know he’s the bad guy.
Still, at least one person picks up on the cues: fellow passenger and father Jae-hyeok (Lee Byung-hun), who very quickly pieces together that something’s going on.
Not before long, passengers start falling over dead – as well as the pilot, forcing deputy pilot Hyeon-soo (Kim Nam-gil) to man the aircraft while dealing with the crisis.
Meanwhile, on the ground, politics ensues as officers have to decide whether to save the passengers or prevent the virus from ever reaching the rest of the public.
Given that most of the events take place in a confined space with a limited set of characters, it is easy for things to get monotonous. And despite the dramatic circumstances presented by the plot, the movie’s flaws are most evident when overused tropes start pouring in.
It also does not help that the best moments are derived from the visual spectacle of the plane, rather than the drama between characters. To its credit, a number of scenes were brought to life through practical effects instead of CGI, which is always welcome.
Still, “Emergency Declaration” seems intent on challenging the audience’s sense of logic. Airplanes have a finite amount of fuel, and the sheer amount of time the stricken plane spends in the air makes one wonder where all that extra mileage is coming from.
The virus itself seems to have varying levels of deadliness, depending on which of the players have plot armour. In one instance, it kills a passenger in no time at all; in another, an infected character has all the time in the world to find a cure for the virus that somehow works faster than it spreads.
There are so many confounding plot points and contrivances that would leave viewers scratching their heads. No doubt, films of this nature require suspension of disbelief, but one can only go so far.
If there’s one saving grace, it’s that “Emergency Declaration” reflects on how society handles disasters such as a pandemic. Is it worth sacrificing all 121 passengers to protect the millions of people on the ground? Who has the right and responsibility to decide?
Ultimately, though, the film is let down by its predictable ending, and one can’t help but wonder if it could have been saved by a script doctor or two.
If you are willing to turn your brain off for an afternoon’s viewing, then “Emergency Declaration” may be worth your time. Otherwise, you might be better off reading a good book instead.
‘Emergency Declaration’ is playing in cinemas nationwide.