NO ESCAPE (2015) – The Review

“Those far away places with the strange-sounding names”, that’s how the old tune goes, I believe. Well, that song’s title as been the theme for many a motion picture, mainly comedies. It’s a great way to exploit the old “fish out of water” fodder for laughs. There’s the foreign on our own turf, with the perplexed visitors in THE TERMINAL and CROCODILE DUNDEE. And, on the flip side we’ve seen the new batch of Grisswolds trying to adapt to unfamiliar parts of their homeland just a few weeks ago in the new VACATION reboot, while the classic clan were the standard “ugly Americans” abroad nearly thirty years ago in EUROPEAN VACATION. And earlier this year a trio of comic misfits led by Vince Vaughn invaded Germany in UNFINISHED BUSINESS. This new film puts a very serious twist on this premise, one that plants the film firmly in thriller territory. This family’s not taking in the sights, like Clark’s crew, they’re re-locating, from Southwest USA to Southeastern Asia (about that “strange-sounding name”-it’s never revealed in this drama, for a reason that becomes very clear as the body count rises), and when their new home become more than a bit hostile, they fear that there’s NO ESCAPE.

As the film begins in that un-mentioned locale “somewhere” in Asia, the fuse is lit on a political powder keg. As the plot starts to boil, the dial is turned back to simmer, actually 17 hours prior, where we meet the Dwyer family in the last leg of their flight to that unstable land. Texan Jack Dwer (Owen Wilson) is a an engineer working for the Cardiff company and is being moved overseas to work on their water distribution facilities in this new market. Jack’s bringing his wife Anne (Lake Bell) and two daughters: (startin’-to-be-rebellious) pre-teen Lucy (Sterling Jerins) and excited grade-schooler ‘Beeze’ (Claire Geare). When her beloved plush pal is lost, they encounter another passenger, British “frequent flyer” Hammond (Pierce Brosnan), a fellow who later tells Jack of his love of this country’s carnal diversions. But is there more to this gregarious guy? They share a cab with Hammond (his favorite driver really loves US culture) to the plush hotel where Jack’s company is housing them (hey, there’s a welcome banner with Jack’s face in the lobby!). But things are more than a touch wonky in their suite. The wi-fi is out along with all the TV channels. The next morning, when he can’t get a newspaper from the hotel lobby, Jack strolls a few blocks over, to the local marketplace. There he stumbles into chaos as the police clash with violent protesters. As Jack races back to the hotel, he sees the police line fail, and watches members of the heavily armed militia detain and execute an Englishman. As the mob gives chase, Jack races back to his family, in hope they can survive the exotic wonderland that has suddenly turned into a deadly hellscape.

Wilson ably breaks free of his iconic mellow slacker persona to be completely believable as a nurturing young father who’s in way over his head. Hey, he’s not a soldier-he invented a valve for goodness sake. Dwyer is certainly not close to another character on the run that Wilson played way back in 2002’s BEHIND ENEMY LINES. He shows us the surprise in his eyes as Jack suddenly taps into unknown courage as his family is in peril. But, there’s also the doubt, the near-panic, when his brain almost shuts down due to the enormity of his situation. Luckily Bell as his wife and true partner can jostle him out of any frightened stupor. Bell is also best known for her comedic work (please follow up your excellent directing/writing debut, IN A WORLD, pretty please!), but she also has those hidden reserves of bravery and knows just when to unshackle her inner “mama bear”. Anne has to put on an optimistic face for the kids, but even before things go south, Bell shows us that the Dwyer matriarch is uneasy with the cards they’ve been dealt (she even brought along her own rice cooker…to Asia!). Brosnan, in his early scenes, comes across as an odd mix of his roles from THE NOVEMBER MAN and THE MATADOR (particularly with Wilson at the hotel bar), with very little of Bond. He’s very funny early in the story, but delivers on the drama as he reveals his true self to Jack, in addition to some of the reasons behind the unrest. Jerins and Geare are gifted actresses who really make the Dwyer girls feel like real kids reacting to the horrific surroundings. They’re never cloying adorable, but we’re still aligned with them even as they frustrate their folks.

Director and co-writer (along with Drew Dowdle) John Erick Dowdle (AS ABOVE, SO BELOW) has fashioned an exhausting nail-biter of a thriller. At times it feels as if one of those old matinée movie serials were smooshed into this 100 minute or so flick. Yeah all twelve or fifteen chapters. The Dwyers make one last-second getaway after another, with barely enough time for them (and the audience) to breathe (how will they get outta’ this one…whew! Oh, oh look out!!). There may be one too many “cavalry to the rescue” scenes and an overuse of slow motion, plus the tension “go to” of having tykes in deadly danger, but the suspense is expertly built and maintained. And we get a bit of current affairs commentary, perhaps to humanize the locals who often seem not far-removed from a zombie horde borrowed from a cable TV hit series. So, the mobs may have a legit beef with foreigners, but often they really relish the sadistic attacks, as much as any horror flick baddie. So, if you can handle the near constant threat of danger, then NO ESCAPE may be the last-gasp-of-Summer terror trip for you. Just make sure your legs don’t buckle as you get up from your theatre seat. It’s a workout and a half!

4 Out of 5