[Seulssine] A Flat Cola-like ‘Decibel’... The Virtue Lies in Handsome ‘Kim, Lee, Cha’

[Lee Isul's Wise Cine Review] Kim Rae-won, Lee Jong-suk, Cha Eun-woo's 'Decibel' Opens on the 16th

'Decibel' still. Photo by Mindmark

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] Perhaps because many well-made terrorist movies have been seen, this one feels old-fashioned. It lacks plausibility and feels as flat as a soda gone stale. It fails to cleverly utilize its fresh material, making it unappealing. The movie "Decibel" will be remembered mainly for featuring handsome male actors such as Cha Eun-woo, Lee Jong-suk, and Kim Rae-won playing navy roles, providing some visual appeal.

On the 7th, "Decibel" (directed by Hwang In-ho) was unveiled at a press screening held at Yongsan CGV in Ichon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Actor Kim Rae-won anchors the story as former navy deputy commander Kang Do-young, while Lee Jong-suk plays a navy captain turned bomb designer opposing him. Jung Sang-hoon appears as a reporter who accidentally gets involved with Kim Rae-won's character in the incident, and Cha Eun-woo, Park Byung-eun, and Lee Sang-hee also star.

The navy submarine Hallaham returns after completing the RIMPAC exercises. The crew aboard the submarine, traveling through deep waters, are all bright-faced. They spend time sharing close friendships, but suddenly an unknown torpedo is launched toward Hallaham. Kang Do-young desperately executes a plan to evade the torpedo and save the crew.

One year passes. Kang Do-young is recognized as a hero who saved the crew with his shining leadership during the crisis. One day, he receives a mysterious phone call. Hearing that a time bomb has been planted, he thinks it is a wrong number and hangs up. At that moment, news breaks that the detached house of an officer who survived on the submarine has exploded in a bomb attack. Shocked, Do-young receives another call.

"If the noise gets louder, it will explode. The next target is the soccer stadium." Do-young rushes to the stadium. Threats from special bombs continue in various places in the heart of the city. Throwing himself to save people, Do-young chases the identity of the person who planned the terror.

'Decibel' still. Photo by Mindmark

The movie uses the concept of noise-reactive bombs that explode or halve the time limit when noise exceeds a certain decibel level (a unit measuring sound intensity). The setting of bombs planted in urban locations such as a soccer stadium and water park is fresh and easily immersive. The idea that the bombs react to noise in crowded places adds tension. However, the execution is disappointing. Early in the film, Do-young’s motivation to confront the terrorists is not easily convincing, which could be allowed as artistic license, but the problem lies with the bombs. The bombs lack presence. The noise-reactive bombs are not powerful enough to convincingly justify the protagonist’s desperate efforts to stop the terror. The scenes depicting bomb explosions fail to generate real tension.

The use of characters is also regrettable. While it is understandable that character explanations are condensed and the plot moves quickly, some characters who barely appear and whose absence would not affect the story feel superfluous. The scenes revealing relationships between characters as secrets unfold in the latter half are weak. The director’s overt attempt to deliberately make the audience cry causes resistance, and "Decibel" falls into this trap. As a film centered on sound, those expecting auditory enjoyment and satisfaction should lower their expectations. The sound quality is poor. The delivery of dialogue and editing also fall short in terms of overall quality.

The film’s merit, opening with Cha Eun-woo’s face, lies in the use of handsome actors. Lee Jong-suk and Kim Rae-won also play navy roles, mostly wearing uniforms and performing action and emotional scenes. Fans of these actors will likely find the visuals satisfying. The bright two-shot of Lee Jong-suk and Cha Eun-woo, and Kim Rae-won’s solo action scenes in uniform carry the film. Running time is 110 minutes. Rated suitable for viewers aged 12 and over. Opens November 16.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.