Review of Escape from Tomorrow (2013) by D.a. Z — 29 Mar 2014

As soon as I heard of Disney potentially suing this film for illegal filming on their property, I was hooked, regardless of the plot. Then comes along the genre "avant-garde art-horror" and I basically lose it. It's uncommon for me to get so hyped over a film with a sketchy director and no cast standouts, but my hype was brutally and gregariously fed in dashingly classic black-and-white.

Because I've chosen to view Escape from Tomorrow as devoid of a meaningful plot, or rather an unimportant one, I'll discuss most of the film through its symbolism and underlying ideologies. These analogies are what create such a uniquely horrifying experience. Sure, Escape from Tomorrow is about a guy who goes on a really bad trip at Disney World. You know, like on bad acid the entire time, except without the bad acid. But that's not why Escape from Tomorrow is unique or important. It's unique in that it subtlety flows through social concepts such as corporate propaganda, subliminal messaging, even science fiction, and later interwoven with philosophical concepts such as the theories of memory, human apathy, and consumerism. Its aesthetically haunting and it is uncomfortably relevant.

Escape from Tomorrow exists as a social commentary of theme parks and Disney World and the entire Disney Corporation. Escape from Tomorrow is equally as much a directorially artistic film with such a style that has been unseen since Eraserhead. It's the post-Lynchian era of cinema and someone has succeeded in creating the next best thing. Lynch and Cronenberg fans will rejoice, along with cult-classic junkies. But really, what does Escape from Tomorrow come down to? Is it all over the place? Most definitely. Did it achieve what it was going for, or better yet, did it even have a direction in the first place? Who knows. When it all comes down to it, Escape from Tomorrow is a nightmarish and though-provoking piece of art.