Review of No Escape (2015) by Russell G — 09 Jul 2016

Brace yourself; this action-thriller overflows with frantic intensity. Typical action movies combine elements of humor and love with bold stunts in the framework of a larger story to offer general entertainment.

This is rougher than most action movies; it is not shooting for exciting entertainment with highly violent gritty imagery. John Erick Dowdle wants to shake the audience with a panicked or frightening situation to get people's heart rate up.

There is not much of a story and there is only a little exposition to add context. It features a father working in the water industry moving to an undeveloped poverty-stricken country with his family.

Soon after they arrive, riots break out with terrorists brutalizing and murdering Americans. The reason for the rioting is not clear most of the time, but there is no time for questions. This father must get back to his family and get them out of this hostile environment.

It is continuous action and suspense to the end. The anti-American villains cover a large area, making it difficult to escape. They are ruthless as they assault and kill people on site, even women and children.

It may go too far sometimes. Casting Owen Wilson in the lead role may seem strange here, but the story does not call for a super-soldier type of hero like Bruce Willis. He is supposed to be a regular dad cast into a perilous situation, in which case, Owen Wilson does fit the part quite well.

This is not for young audiences or people with a weak stomach. It operates on high doses of unfiltered violence, and the camera rarely shows discretion or cuts away from ugly scenes. The fast pace action makes an exciting experience, but it is not very fun and the politics and plot are slim.