An intense international thriller, NO ESCAPE centers on an American businessman (Wilson) as he and his family settle into their new home in Southeast Asia. Suddenly finding themselves in the middle of a violent political uprising, they must frantically look for a safe escape as rebels mercilessly attack the city. Directed by John Erick Dowdle and written together with his brother Drew, NO ESCAPE stars Owen Wilson, Pierce Brosnan and Lake Bell.
Director: John E. Dowdle
Cast: Owen Wilson, Pierce Brosnan, Lake
Bell, Sterling
Jerins.
Release Date: Aug
26, 2015
Rated: R for strong Violence Throughout, and For Language
Runtime: 1 hr. 41 min.
Genres: Suspense/Thriller
Review:
John E. Dowdle’s No Escape feels like a mash up of The Purge:
Anarchy, The Warrior and Hostel. It’s a
tense mess of a film that really hits all the worse clichés of the dangers
abroad genre. Dowdle’s direction is
fairly strong as he ratchets up the tension to insane levels particularly
during the first half of the film.
Sadly, there’s little to no characterization of any of the characters
and only the thinnest and cheapest of explanation about the coup that sets off
the action. Pierce Brosnan appears
disappears, reappears and disappears for good from the movie remaining the most
interesting character in the whole production.
Owen Wilson and Lake Bell
deliver solid work hitting all the panicked notes you can think of. They’re continually frazzled and on edge but
seemingly have time for some family discussions regardless of whatever is going
on. There’s logical plot holes left and
right even as the film beats its message over your head with it literally
spelled out for you. And then, just like
that, it’s over since the escape route was conveniently close and far enough to
keep the film rolling.
C+
