Exit Plan

Exit Plan is a gripping 2019 psychological drama thriller film with a touch of mystery, directed by Jonas Alexander Arnby. The film is led by an impressive international cast that includes Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Tuva Novotny and Robert Aramayo.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, famously known for his role as Jaime Lannister in the celebrated series "Game of Thrones," portrays the character of Max Isaksen, an insurance investigator with a bleak and unadventurous existence. Max is struggling with an emotionally tumultuous life fading under the weight of his job's monotonous routine and a powerful sense of personal dissatisfaction. His life further spins into an abyss when he is diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor that puts an expiration date on his existence. Faced with the shocking revelation, Max charmingly exhibits the myriad emotions faced by an individual grappling with a life-threatening condition.

Tuva Novotny, who plays Max's loving yet distressed wife, Laerke, provides a riveting performance that embodies the painful dissolution of relationships when one partner becomes terminally ill. The chemistry between Coster-Waldau and Novotny makes their pain palpable to spectators as they grapple with the newfound reality.

Robert Aramayo plays Ariel, a young man who becomes a significant figure in Max's increasingly turbulent journey. Aramayo's impactful performance impressively contributes to the emotive richness of Exit Plan's storyline.

In general, the story follows Max's disillusioned professional and personal voyage as he embarks on a chilling exploration of a bizarre establishment named 'Hotel Aurora,' an enigmatic place aiding in suicide for the terminally ill or those who wish to end their life on their own terms. This eerie place uses mysterious, authentically surreal procedures to assist its visitors in transitioning peacefully.

Set against a bleak Scandinavian backdrop, Exit Plan's moody cinematography laid out by Niels Thastum sets the tone, creating an intriguingly dark, atmospheric film that is as gloomy as it is poignant. The unsettlingly calm environment, complemented by an ability to maintain subtle surrealism throughout, makes the movie a compelling watch.

Michael Bauer and Rasmus Birch's nuanced screenplay further foregrounds ethical issues surrounding this controversial subject without providing a moralistic judgment, instead prompting audiences to generate their own views.

The compelling soundtrack by Mikkel Hess effortlessly blends with the thematic elements, amplifying the eerie hollowness of Max's existential crisis. It creates a beautifully haunting soundscape, bringing forth the sense of calmness and tension that pulsates throughout the film's narrative.

Exit Plan appeals to its audience not just as a simple narrative, but as an exploration of loneliness and the essence of what it means to be human in the face of mortality. For those who appreciate understated drama with a brooding atmosphere and thought-provoking subject matter, Exit Plan would prove to be an intriguing piece of cinema.

On the whole, Jonas Alexander Arnby's Exit Plan is a wonderfully executed piece of art that takes spectators on a dark yet insightful journey through life's deepest existential queries. The film manages to construct a delicate equilibrium of bleak reality and surreal fantasy, leaving viewers meditative and reflective.

Summing up, Exit Plan is an atmospheric psychological drama that delves into the topic of existential crisis, loneliness and euthanasia. Its gripping storyline, thought-provoking themes, and riveting performances make it an engrossing cinematic exploration of life when faced with impending death. It is a compelling, captivating, and provocative piece of filmmaking that is not only memorable for its storyline, but also for the questions it poses to the audience.