No Escape

Films about people trapped with virtually no escape have made their way into the multiplexes for many years. With our fascination of fretting over others well-being or needing that adrenaline fix or wondering if they are going to make it, be rest assured, Hollywood will definitely make these films happen as long as there's an audience to see them. This is why we have in the offing, "No Escape" to give us that rush which will keep you on the edge of that seat.

When Jack Dwyer (Owen Wilson) finds an opportunity to go to Malaysia to head his water manufacturing company's new plant there, he immediately jumps at the opportunity and moves his family, including his wife, Annie (Lake Bell) there. When they arrive; they seem to be having problems, the electronics don't work and rarely any cars are seen on the streets. When he goes to the market the next morning, he finds himself caught in the middle of a violent rebellion headed by armed rebels executing foreigners. Jack must get back to the hotel with the help of a mysterious "tourist", Hammond (Pierce Brosnan), and he must get his family to the American Embassy in the midst of the chaos. But is there any escape or is there...no escape?

Others to round out the cast are Sahajak Boonthanakit as Kenny Rogers, Tanapol Chuksrida as Krit, Sterling Jerins and Claire Geare as Lucy and Beeze Dwyer, Jack and Annie's daughters, Nophand Boonyal as Concierge, Jon Goldney as Jerry, Barthelemy Son as Francois and Kanarrat Phintiang as Bellhop.

This was extremely directed with amazing intensity and grit by John Erik Dowdle ("Full Moon Rising" '96, "The Dry Spell" '05, "The Poughkeepsie Tapes" '07, "Quarantine" '08, "Devil" '10, "As Above, So Below" '14). As with his resume, this guy has cornered the market on horrific, macabre and intense. In other words, it would be difficult to believe if this director decided to pull off a comedy, but who knows? With the close-ups shots and the darkness in which this was shot just gave that ominous look to this film which added to the 'scare' factor that much more. It was also written by Dowdle and his brother, Drew Dowdle. They both have worked on the same films for many years and it certainly has paid off. Basically if one loses ideas, the other picks up where the other left. Brothers can do this depending on the closeness of the ties. The characters were well delineated and were believably put in a situation that the audience could easily handle, and could empathize with. Even Brosnan didn't play his 'spy out there to save the world' type of character. He had a plethora of issues himself, but still looked out for others. This was an expose of how hard and volatile our world is out there today, and we just can't sit back on our laurels and act as though the rest of the world is living like us. The realism of this was absolutely sobering if not startling.

This film had a lot to say, the question is: are we willing to listen and see what's on that screen and really think about the ravages of the rest of the world, or is it business as usual? You be the judge.

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                              Rated: R                                 104mins.