No Escape

An intense and suspenseful flick that I am ashamed to have put off for so long. A family with kids on vacation in Asia find themselves in the middle of a coup in which the locals are hunting Americans, and it's an incredibly atmospheric ride. I loved the brilliant two leads, the reasonable running time that doesn't bore for a minute, and, most importantly, the ubiquitous action, paranoia and frantic escape from the attackers. A simple but beautifully functional whole, whose greatest strength is its ability to pin the viewer in their seat, and that doesn't happen to me all that often. (26/08/2022)

I surprisingly liked this. It focuses a lot on family, and in this respect, it's simple yet believable. Moreover, the extent to which Wilson's character is willing and able to do everything to save his loved ones really impressed me. Pierce Brosnan deserved more space, but again, it didn't slip into being a macho thriller. (03/11/2015)

Slight disappointment. On the plus side, No Escape moves quickly and doesn't let up until the end, but it doesn't have much to impress. The action is mediocre, the blood is scarce, Owen Wilson is not a good fit here, Pierce Brosnan on the other hand enjoys his role but doesn't get much space. I appreciate the topical and unorthodox theme. All in all, a pleasant entertainment that does not offend. 65% (03/11/2015)

A standard apocalyptic episode of the Walking Dead; just with the Asians instead of zombies. This impression is, after all, amplified by the television setting and the appalling slowdowns. Not to mention the cast of the whole family. Wilson as a "fuddy-duddy next door, who is forced by circumstances to find his macho side for the good of his family" is not good enough. Lake Bell is so insipid that even mediocre pencil pushers become famous celebrities compared to him, not to mention "annoying and even more annoying daughters". It´s even more disappointing, because purely in terms of genre, the gradation is really good, and some scenes are packed with adrenaline so much that you will be sitting on the edge of your chair. (16/01/2018)

It's a bit of a buzzkill when a film invites you out to a bar with a drunken old free spirit with a gun and a boring family man, then as the partner for your ensuing vacation chooses the latter. Because as soon as genocide is unleashed, we realize that this time we won't just be watching the protagonists deal with their various predicaments, but each situation will have a prologue where everyone will be yelling at each other that no way in hell and then all right fine, and of course an epilogue, where after each situation everyone will still have to pat each other down and ask if they're okay. And Dowdle doesn't offers no rationalizations for it, because he's making a genre film, not a raw realistic drama about a horrific conflict somewhere far away, but simply a thrilling spectacle with all the flaws and crutches that go along with it. And which features nothing but the walking mausoleum Pierce Brosnan referencing not only his most important film role, but also his legendary singing performance in Mamma Mia! Here the truth is actually preferable. (20/02/2018)