[FILM REVIEW] Decibel (2022): A Fresh Spin on Action Films

An anonymous terrorist burdens an ex-Navy commander with the lonely mission of defusing the bombs he scattered across the city. The catch? These bombs are designed to explode faster when noise exceeds 100 decibels. And when the lives of his wife and daughter are eventually put at risk, Doyoung is driven further into desperation.


Decibel is a sneak peek into twisted yet inventive terrorism being realised in an uncertain world. But there is more to it than the terror. Kim Rae-won, Lee Jong-suk, Jung Sang-hoon, Park Byung-eun, and Cha Eun-woo tell a surprisingly human tale behind the nerve-wracking action.

Shh—the bomb will hear you

Kang Do-young (Kim Rae-won), a former lieutenant commander in the Korean Navy, receives a cryptic phone call informing him that the lives of thousands were about to be in danger. From a playground, a busy water park, to a stadium packed with football fans, sound-responsive bombs placed in each location were scheduled to explode shortly. And there was one condition: Do-young had to save them all himself.

Confused yet frantic, Do-young rushes down to the football stadium in search for the bomb, supported by Defense Security Command agent Cha Young-han (Park Byung-eun) on the phone. On the way, he runs into the eager journalist Oh Dae-oh (Jung Sang-hoon) who helps to distract the ongoing game to prevent the sound levels from triggering the bomb.

The unexpected duo join hands to combat bomb threats in the other areas, which prove their own obstacles as the terrorist continues to serve up trouble. The bomb designer and mastermind behind the intricate plan of terror turns out to be a vengeful Jeon Tae-seong (Lee Jong-suk), Do-young’s former subordinate in the Navy who is also a Mensa member with an IQ of 170.

The Submarine Problem

Do-young and Tae-seong go a long way back. A year ago, the two were part of a submarine stint featuring a 44-strong crew, including Tae-seong’s younger brother, Jeon Tae-ryeong (Cha Eun-woo). After a major accident in the deep waters, the crew had to survive on limited oxygen and supplies while waiting to be rescued. But as the days passed, help was nowhere in sight and oxygen was depleting fast in the crowded cabins. The crew was reaching a crisis. 

As the highest-ranked officer on board, Do-young was forced into a cruel dilemma—allow the whole crew to perish with the little oxygen left, or sacrifice half the crew to give the remainder a chance to be rescued. With emotional protests from Tae-seong, who would rather the whole crew go down together, Do-young made everyone draw lots to pick their fate. Long strings were to remain, and short strings had to go. Tae-ryeong was one of the 22 officers to pick a short string. 

A traumatised Tae-seong is determined to keep the submarine tragedy alive in the minds of all to avenge the 22 officers who were sacrificed. Do-young’s family eventually gets caught up in Tae-seong’s revenge plan, and in familiar fashion, Do-young is forced to choose between saving his wife or his daughter.

Review

Decibel might ride on the damsel-in-distress cliche of action films, but nevertheless scores well in the execution of heart-pumping action scenes. The sound-responsive bomb is a novel feature that propels tension and builds a unique brand of multisensory suspense. Viewers’ sensitivity to sound is heightened thanks to these unforgiving bombs. 

This tension is supported by the cast’s exemplary screen presence. Decibel is one of the rare occasions fans get to see Lee Jong-suk play the antagonist, and he certainly did not disappoint. Gasps could be heard among the audience at his performance of villain-grade lunacy, driven by profound pain. Cha Eun-woo of the K-pop boy group ASTRO also had his time to shine in scenes where he conveyed a heart-wrenching farewell on the submarine. And before things got too serious, Jung Sang-hoon, known for his stint on SNL Korea, balances out the intense action with his humanity and some slapstick moments. 

The problem on the submarine is an important part of the film that may have been overshadowed by the bombs and the action. Do-young’s dilemma immediately brings to mind the classic trolley problem experiment, and viewers are called to ponder what they would have done in that situation. But as Decibel shows, there is no perfect solution to some problems.  

Decibel is showing in cinemas now.

Running time: 1h 50min
The Seoul Story’s Rating: 4/5

We would like to extend our gratitude to Purple Plan for the invite!

Written by: Gloria
Photos by: Purple Plan

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