I saw No Escape at the theater in 2015. I am not sure why I was bored enough to watch it again last night, but I did. And I remembered that I actually liked this film. At it's core, this suspense film is a "chase" film. When we think of chase films, we normally think of cars. Or we think of a hero being chased by a bad guy. Or a hero trying to race against time to save the world. The concept is certainly not new. But you are able to milk a lot more suspense out of this type of film when the hero is just a normal guy trying to save his family. A family that includes two small children who represent a clear challenge, adding to the suspense.
My biggest challenge with No Escape was accepting Owen Wilson in a serious role. A hero role even. I'm not a big fan of his to begin with. But I was surprised that he managed to pull it off. Maybe he is just goofy enough to help create the tension of an average father (Jack Dwyer) trying to save his family. Had they cast a tough guy in the role, it might have played differently. Instead, Wilson managed to keep me off balance. Lake Bell took on the role of his wife. She was decent enough. I was more impressed with the actors who portrayed their two young children, Sterling Jerins and Claire Geare. The girls gave us fear beyond just irritating screams. They were immersed in the story and gave performances capable of selling it.
The chase comes in the form of a contractor who moves his family to a country in Southeast Asia where he is an engineer for a waterworks project. Without saying so, the suggestion that it takes place in Cambodia. The timing corresponds with a coup led by rebels upset by foreign investment and involvement in the country. They immediately begin executing foreigners. Dwyer must locate all his family members and figure out where to go. As the hotel is overrun, the chase is on. Is the Embassy safe? A temple? Where does a family with children go in a country where they don't speak the language? While being hunted by a ruthless group of assassins. The presence of the children creates a lot of tension that might not otherwise be present. It was a great concept that played out pretty well. Although I had to suspend belief a few times.
This story comes to us from John Erick Dowdle, who also directed. Something he has done on several previous films, although I did not see all of them, and didn't care for the one I did see (Quarantine). Chase films seldom have a strong narrative arc. Normally they are pretty cut and dry. This film had a decent set up, taking place almost immediately after the Dwyer's arrive in Asia. The majority of the film one elongated chase scenes with some false reprieves and a few minor twists. The suspense builds, releases, builds, releases. It is a cyclic operation of tense scenes followed by dialogue, decision making and action. It works. I don't know why. For all intents and purposes, I should be panning this film. But I thought it was well done.
Dowdle gives us a film that seems shorter than its 103 minute runtime. The action and pacing are perfect for a suspense/thriller. He creates several situations that build the suspense before allowing us to catch our breath. And then immediately into the next scenario. It is a pulse driving pace that was almost believable, but definitely worth watching. IMDb isn't as kind as I am, giving the film (currently) a reasonable 6.8 rating. That's not really indicative of a bad film. But it seems kind of average. It is definitely worth watching free (on Showtime right now). I am more in the neighborhood of 7.5/10.
Photos and video courtesy of the Weinstein Company
