After an American family relocates to an Asian country, they
soon find themselves trapped in the midst of a national uprising. ACTION
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No Escape (2015)Directed by John Erick Dowdle
Written by John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle Starring Owen Wilson, Lake Bell, Pierce Brosnan, Sterling Jerins, Claire Geare, Sahajak Boonthanakit |
No Escape was a brutally realistic action thriller that shows how tourists would handle a coup in a foreign country. I consider myself pretty open-minded, but I'll admit to being a little afraid of leaving the country after watching this film. It's tough to watch at times, but that intensity and suspense will most likely disappear upon a second viewing. Still, when you're watching it for the first time, No Escape certainly keeps your interest and even scares you sometimes.
I never would've figured Owen Wilson to be the guy I'd be rooting for in an action thriller, but he does a decent job. Wilson's likability and charm makes him the ideal protagonist to get behind as he fights through impossible circumstances to get his family to safety. I highly enjoyed Pierce Brosnan's performance as the mysterious British agent who helps them escape the city. I wish he'd had a bigger role, though, as I found his character very interesting and fun to watch. I liked that No Escape did not have a definitive villain. It was all about man vs. society at its absolute worst. Few films can use this trope to depict a realistic national uprising, but this one pulled it off. I don't understand the backlash behind this film. I enjoyed every second, from its gradual buildup to its pulse-pounding finale. The characters are likable and the situations are quite dire. It's not for the faint of heart. There are a number of cringeworthy scenes that remind the viewer of how real this movie is attempting to be. I hope that No Escape gets the attention it deserves one day. At the very least, it warrants a chance. |