The Exception (2017)

The Exception is special because it turns a familiar World War II backdrop into something more intimate and electrically tense: a closed-door thriller where every glance feels like a secret and every corridor could be a trap. David Leveaux stages Huis Doorn like a gilded pressure cooker, and the film’s polished period detail only sharpens the danger as romance, resistance, and suspicion tighten around Jai Courtney and Lily James with real heat and urgency. But the quiet marvel is Christopher Plummer, who gives the exiled Kaiser a sly, human gravity that makes the whole story feel richer than a standard spy yarn. It’s not for everyone—its frank sexuality and occasional brutality can be jolting—but if you want a smart, seductive blend of intrigue and emotion that never coasts on clichés, this one earns your attention.

The Exception is aiming for a steamy, twisty WWII mansion thriller where espionage and romance collide, and you can feel it reaching for that classy “danger behind closed doors” vibe. The problem is the intrigue often plays more like contrived plot mechanics than earned suspense, with clunky dialogue and uneven accents constantly nudging you out of the period. If you’re picky about historical plausibility or want a tight, smart spy story, this will likely test your patience. Still, Lily James brings genuine spark, and the secluded setting plus occasional bursts of tension can make it a decent watch if you’re mainly here for forbidden romance with a war-movie backdrop (and you’re fine with explicit content).