No Escape

Name: No Escape
Genre: Action, Thriller
Released: August 26, 2015
Duration: 103 min
Rating: 38
Cast: Chatchawai Kamonsakpitak, Kanarpat Phintiang, Lake Bell, Nophand Boonyai, Owen Wilson

2015

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 33 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 169 Ratings

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6.4

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6.4	Your Score
6.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 169 Ratings

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No Escape

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Movie Details & Credits

Weinstein Company, The | Release Date: August 26, 2015 | R

Starring: Chatchawai Kamonsakpitak, Kanarpat Phintiang, Lake Bell, Nophand Boonyai, Owen Wilson, Pierce Brosnan, Sahajak Boonthanakit, Tanapol Chuksrida, Thanawut Kasro

Summary: As an American businessman (Owen Wilson) and his family settle into their new home in Southeast Asia, they suddenly finding themselves in the middle of a violent political uprising. They must frantically look for a safe escape as rebels mercilessly attack the city.

Director: John Erick Dowdle

Genre(s): Action, Thriller

Rating: R

Runtime: 103 min

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Critic Reviews

James Berardinelli

Aug 25, 2015

No Escape is a throwback to an era when movies of this genre were defined by suspense and tension. Dowdle isn't interested in providing a safe harbor for those who want a comfortable way to spend two hours. His vision is edgy and exhausting and, for the most part, his execution breathes life into it, tossing a firecracker into the sleepy post-summer movie doldrums. Read full review

Richard Roeper

Aug 25, 2015

There’s no denying director/co-writer John Erick Dowdle’s skill set for creating almost unbearably tense and quite twisted suspense pieces in which you’ll find yourself laughing at the sheer unapologetic insanity of it all. Read full review

Daniel M. Gold

Aug 25, 2015

Directed breathlessly by John Erick Dowdle (“As Above/So Below”), the movie is filled with jittery shots from hand-held cameras, and hurtles along at a pace that is especially helpful in racing past the holes in the paper-thin plot. Read full review

Alan Scherstuhl

Aug 25, 2015

No Escape, while cruel, is often uncommonly suspenseful. And by pitting its white leads against the citizen hordes of Southeast Asia, No Escape is also uncommonly honest about the fears and assumptions that fuel adventure fiction — here, the Other is not abstracted away to orcs or aliens. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

Aug 27, 2015

I won’t make a case for No Escape being a good film; the first half is pretty good and the second half ranges from pretty bad to truly awful. Nor will I deny having enjoyed quite a bit of it as a zombie film, never mind that it’s supposed to be an international thriller with contemporary political significance. Read full review

Justin Chang

Aug 24, 2015

Grittily propulsive filmmaking and solid performances from Owen Wilson and Lake Bell aside, there’s no escaping the movie’s hand-wringing manipulations and pandering sense of privilege. Read full review

Jake Cole

Aug 25, 2015

The only way that this film could be any more racist is if the Dwyer family holed up with Lillian Gish and waited for the Klan to save them. Read full review

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User Reviews

TheCassie

Sep 10, 2015

The negative reviews of the film, No Escape, is more proof that people just jump on the internet bandwagon of stupid every. chance. they. get. It seems that the better the actors are at bringing a scene to life, the more raw emotion the movie evokes, as this one undoubtedly did, the moreThe negative reviews of the film, No Escape, is more proof that people just jump on the internet bandwagon of stupid every. chance. they. get. It seems that the better the actors are at bringing a scene to life, the more raw emotion the movie evokes, as this one undoubtedly did, the more there will be a movement of unwarranted ridicule, especially if the actors in the film are good, solid, authentic people in real life.
Each of the stars' performances was entirely engrossing, powerfully believable, with all of the subtleties that give it depth, and the whole bit. EACH one of them NAILED it: Owen Wilson, Lake Bell, Pierce Brosnan, down to the two little girls, that I refer to as: Good Lord, where did they find these tiny, incredibly-skilled actors.
It was ABSOLUTELY suspenseful throughout -- but throughout. You should see the fingernail marks on my boyfriend's arm as proof. The script had no wasted words, and each line was delivered with enough mastery to make you feel like you were truly peeking in on these characters' intimate, crushing, and life-affirming moments.
The whole rumor that No Escape made the mistake of having an underlying theme of Westerners: good guys; foreigners: violent savages, is also bunk. The setting is in a Fourth World Country, where -- yes -- there would be violent movements of desperation, and the movie succeeds in reminding the audience of that same group's humanity and compassion -- again, throughout.
It was an amazing experience watching No Escape, and shame on all of you who just fell in line with the sabotage dumb-dumb train disguised with adverse, fancy-sounding jargon.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

SeniorLady

Sep 6, 2015

I thought this movie was fantastic. This is not the genre I usually gravitate to but I didn't not want to stay home Friday night. The popcorn is another big draw for me. I bought the popcorn, but barely touched it because the movie was so mesmerizing. Later I checked the reviews and wasI thought this movie was fantastic. This is not the genre I usually gravitate to but I didn't not want to stay home Friday night. The popcorn is another big draw for me. I bought the popcorn, but barely touched it because the movie was so mesmerizing. Later I checked the reviews and was disappointed that reviewers gave it such low numbers. Oh well. I definitely disagree with them. 10 out of 10 if your favorite think is intense any second maybe the end type of movies.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DotTheEyes

Aug 26, 2015

Recently hired by an international conglomerate, an American man (Owen Wilson) spirits his reluctant wife (Lake Bell) and daughters (Sterling Jerins and Claire Geare) from Texas to Southeast Asia. On their first morning abroad, the fresh start is disrupted by an explosive coup and aRecently hired by an international conglomerate, an American man (Owen Wilson) spirits his reluctant wife (Lake Bell) and daughters (Sterling Jerins and Claire Geare) from Texas to Southeast Asia. On their first morning abroad, the fresh start is disrupted by an explosive coup and a subsequent wave of anti-Western mob violence. With the help of a mysterious, seasoned expatriate (Pierce Brosnan), the family fights to stay a step ahead of their pursuers and escape to bordering Vietnam. No Escape is a fast, vicious, and highly involving action-suspense film. Wilson (in a relatively rare, but not unprecedented dramatic role) and Bell exude convincing parental desperation and dismay, while Brosnan is a scene-stealing delight, if a tad underutilized, as the debauched, jovial, unshaven Man with a Past Who Knows the Lay of the Land. The film zips from one close-call-in-close-quarters set piece to the next, rarely pulling a punch in regard to violence and nicely maintaining momentum and a pervasive atmosphere of claustrophobia and paranoia. The specter of potential xenophobia is present (this is a film in which a sympathetic white family is contrasted with and pit against a thronging Other, and there will be those who ignore the quality of the acting and craft on display because of this), but the film admirably, if a tad halfheartedly motions to temper this by also indicting Western corporations' acts of exploitation and resource plundering in the Third World. I for one have no significant problem with a grind-house-spirited film such as this mining stranger-in-a-strange-land unease: the spatial disorientation, the inability to easily communicate, etc. After all, it is a real and recognizable experience and, by extension, a perfectly ripe subject for pulp entertainment.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

LeZee

Jan 4, 2016

In the ocean of orcas, a family of four penguins seeks a way out.

It was one of those movies I've lost interest after seeing its trailer. When I decided to watch I had no expectations, but I liked the surprise it gave me. So much better and very entertaining with lots of nail bitingIn the ocean of orcas, a family of four penguins seeks a way out.

It was one of those movies I've lost interest after seeing its trailer. When I decided to watch I had no expectations, but I liked the surprise it gave me. So much better and very entertaining with lots of nail biting momentum. You can't write a review for this without mentioning the terrace scene which was one of the highlights of the movie.

Remember the 2013 flick 'The Impossible' about a western family while visiting Thailand for a holiday stranded and separated after tsunami struck. Feels like this one is kind of a sequel, because of the similarity and takes place in a neighbouring country, Cambodia. But here the visiting family has to face the threat posed by the men from and during the coup.

Ups and downs in the acting career are very normal and keeping that pace is essential. Right now Owen Wilson is maintaining it well and a few 2016 releases are the most anticipated ones. Pierce Brosnan's decent limited appearance had a prominent part of the storytelling. Comparing recent wonderful movies, Lake Bell carried out phenomenal stage of her career.

I thought it would be old fashioned like the 80s and 90s flicks about people trapped in a local conflict. If you are yet to watch it, I'll clear your doubt that it is the same old theme, but amazes you with many thrill scenes. So this movie is very enjoyable and you would have a good time. Not recommended unless if you're not looking for a masterpiece.

7/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Trev29

Dec 19, 2015

The movie is decent and pretty straightforward. The premise works well for the most part. However, there isn't really anything special about it that makes this movie stand out.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

tjman09

Aug 26, 2015

No Escape is a cliched, generic action film that struggles framing good action, but does have a few good performances. Seeing Owen Wilson in an action film had me concerned, surprisingly he and Lake Bell gave good performances. Despite that the film fails, for a multitude of reasons, mostNo Escape is a cliched, generic action film that struggles framing good action, but does have a few good performances. Seeing Owen Wilson in an action film had me concerned, surprisingly he and Lake Bell gave good performances. Despite that the film fails, for a multitude of reasons, most notably the story. The story is both generic and predictable, on top of that the story is a little too complex. Besides the story almost all of the characters have no development, besides Lake Bell's character who had a good amount of development. The villains were weak as they felt like nothing but faceless villains, if it weren't for one line of dialogue we'd have no idea why they are trying to kill these people. Lastly the camerawork is bad, there's absurd amounts of shaky cam, and the action sequences are almost impossible to follow. In conclusion the generic plot, weak character development and villains, and poorly shot action sequences make No Escape a mediocre action film, despite a good turn by Owen Wilson.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

TheKavehJ

Aug 27, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. No Escape is boring, and besides a few action scenes, the film bore me. But when he was throwing the kids roof to roof that was scary, and when the guy almost made the girl shoot the dad, that was super scary.… Expand

0 of 7 users found this helpful07

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69	#69 Most Discussed Movie of 2015
62	#62 Most Shared Movie of 2015