A video showing an unknown man declaring that he will kill everyone onboard an upcoming flight goes viral, but the police don’t know which flight or in what manner this threat will be carried out. As police sergeant Jung In-ho (Song Kang-ho) leads the investigation, bioterrorist Ryu Jin-seok (Yim Si-wan) boards a random plane from Japan to Hawaii, carrying a lethal, highly-contagious pathogen he plans to unleash after takeoff. As the virus starts to spread through the cabin, panic ensues among the passengers, and the captain makes an emergency declaration. As he tries to find some place to land the plane to get help for those onboard, no nation seems to be willing to expose its citizens to an unknown virus. As the plane rapidly burns through its fuel, the remaining members of the flight crew try to maintain order, keep the passengers calm, and get a handle on their deteriorating situation. On the ground, the police and the President’s Crisis Management Center, led by Park Tae-su (Park Hae-joon), try to figure out the source of the virus, and whether there is a potential antidote, while also trying to minimize the number of deaths, collateral damage, and international and political fallout of the situation.
Among those 121 passengers aboard Flight 501 happens to be the police sergeant’s wife, which gives him extra motivation (and desperation) in his search for answers. Also on board is divorced father Jae-hyuk (Lee Byung-hun) and his young daughter. Jae-hyuk has a fear of flying due to a tragic incident from his past, but he is going to have to confront his past in order put his experience and expertise towards giving the passengers who haven’t succumbed to the virus a chance at survival. Also struggling to help the terrified passengers and maintain order aboard the plane are first officer Choi Hyun-soo (Kim Nam-gil) and dedicated flight attendant Hee-jin (Kim So-jin).
As the film opens, we get to know the terrorist as he tries to find any heavily-populated flight on which to unleash his virus, and while doing so, he has a creepy run-in with Jae-hyuk and his daughter, where we get some of their backstory. The film then wastes no time in getting right into the action, both with the police investigation on the ground, and in-flight with some passengers quickly falling victim to the virus and causing general panic throughout the cabin. As the virus spreads, the passengers who have not yet become sick, find themselves facing several new, unexpected threats and dangers that could ultimately send the plane plummeting. If the virus doesn’t get them, it seems likely something else will! The filmmakers do an excellent job of building the drama the tension and keeping you on the edge of your seat.
Emergency Declaration is a thoroughly-engaging and intense thriller that often puts the viewer right in the middle of the action to experience first-hand the tension and chaos aboard this plane. The effects are really well done. As the plane experiences massive turbulence and starts to get completely out of control, you feel like you are right there, being tossed around the cabin with the other passengers. Or when fights break out, you are right in the middle of the melee. In addition to following that action and character drama on the plane, the film also explores the personal and professional drama of those on the ground, including the emotional police sergeant trying to save his wife, and those at the crisis center who must balance political and ethical trade-offs while trying to find some solution for the seemingly-doomed passengers.
Well Go’s Blu-ray release includes both the original Korean audio (in a Dolby Atmos/TrueHD mix) as well as an English dub (in a DTS-HDMA mix). Both of these are very impressive, providing a fully-immersive viewing experience. Whether it’s the ambiance of the PA announcements at the airport, the clattering of the plane as it spins out of control, the chaotic screams of passengers, or the warning shots from a military that doesn’t want the deadly plane to land in their country, the sound really fills the room, and make the viewer feel like they are in the center of the on-screen action. Dialogue also remains clear throughout. The English dub option is quite good, with dialogue that is slightly different at times from the subtitles, but more natural-sounding. The video presentation is also really well done, providing a somewhat clean, clear and detailed picture throughout, whether in the darker plane cabin or on the ground.
Well Go’s Blu-ray release includes over 16 minutes of bonus material, all presented in Korean with English subtitles, consisting of some behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the film’s cast and crew. The release also contains the movie’s trailer, and some previews for three other Well Go releases. The disc comes packed in a locking HD keepcase, and doesn’t include a digital copy. Our review copy also included a cardboard slipcover.
What’s Included:
Film: (2:20:45)
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Blu-ray:
- 1080p / Widescreen 2.35:1
- Audio: Korean Dolby Atmos in Dolby TrueHD, Korean Stereo, English DTS-HDMA 5.1, English Stereo
- Subtitles: English, Full English
Extras:
All featurettes are presented in Korean with English subtitles.
- Making Of (5:59)
The cast and director talk about capturing the chaos experienced by the passengers, working with the other actors, building the set, the film’s reception at the Cannes Film Festival, the director’s process, and more. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with director Han Jae-rim, and stars Lee Byung-hun (“Jae-hyuk”), Kim Nam-gil (“Hyun-soo”), Song Kang-ho (“In-ho”), Jeon Do-yeon (“Sook-hee”), Kim So-jin (“Hee-jin”), Yim Si-wan (“Jin-seok”) & Park Hae-joon (“Tae-su”). - The Characters (3:22)
The cast members discuss their characters and how they prepared for their roles. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with stars Song Kang-ho, Lee Byung-hun, Jeon Do-yeon, Park Hae-joon, Jin-seok & Kim So-jin. - The 360° Shot (3:04)
The cast and crew discuss the plane set, and filming the intense spinning plane scene. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with director Han Jae-rim, set decorator Lee Mok-won, lighting director Lee Seong-gwan, CG supervisor Hong Joeng-ho, and stars Song Seok-ho (T-Way Captain”), Kim Nam-gil, Song Kang-ho, Lee Byung-hun, Jeon Do-yeon, Yim Si-wan, Park Hae-joon & Kim So-jin. - Cannes Film Festival Interviews (3:44)
Footage of the cast and director at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival. Includes interviews with director Han Jae-rim, and stars Song Seok-ho, Lee Byung-hun & Yim Si-wan, who discuss the experience. - Trailer (1:38)
- Previews:
- The Witch 2: The Other One (1:44)
- Alienoid (2:07)
- The Loneliest Boy in the World (2:20)
Final Thoughts:
Emergency Declaration is a thoroughly-engaging, intense, and immersive thriller that will keep the audience on the edge of their seats. While most films like this would be about preventing the terrorist attack on a plane, this follows more of the aftermath and how those who manage to survive the initial attack struggle to contain the situation and survive to hopefully make it back home alive. Well Go’s Blu-ray release looks and sounds great, and contains some nice behind-the-scenes material of one of the film’s most exciting sequences. This is an easy recommendation for anything looking for an exciting, action-packed air thriller.
Emergency Declaration
60% Off $29.98 $11.97 (as of November 24, 2024 09:47 GMT -05:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Emergency Declaration
$12.99 $12.19 (as of November 24, 2024 09:47 GMT -05:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
