Akilla's Escape (2020) User Reviews

A well done film [7.5 stars]

[jimtheclarkster · 7/10 · 11 December 2021]

Reminded me of FRESH and Ghost Dog, while maybe not good as fresh, it's crafted nicely with concurrent flashbacks. It can be at times slow moving but it's an interesting plot that is well-acted by the cast and really good film. I'd say I'm not sure why IMDbers have rated it slow low but it's 'merica and that pretty much explains it.

Very surprised by such a low rating

[calicut110 · 6/10 · 16 October 2021]

This movie engaging with action and suspense. Acting was good, music was good. I'm not sure why so many people didn't like it, it's much better than most things out there.

Art of War

[nogodnomasters · 5/10 · 29 June 2021]

Akilla escapes Jamaica where he worked for his father Clinton, a major crime figure. Years later he lives in Toronto dealing pot as a middle man. His place is robbed. He has a teen from gang that robbed him. As he works to get the money back, he tries to save the teen and has a series of flashbacks.

Better than most films involving Jamaicans. Slow at times.

Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity.

A one time watch.

[LordCommandar · 4/10 · 14 June 2021]

A decent one time watch about a young boy thrust into the world of gang violence and drug dealing and somewhat a hint of redemption in the end. A story good enough to keep you attentive, nothing over the top nor anything to write home about. Soundtrack was really great and that's about it. A decent time killer film.

THIS SHOULD BE A 10/10 FILM

[theadhdgod · 10/10 · 12 June 2021]

Im going to keep this short and sweet, if you like gangster films with an emotional story and great acting and soundtrack, its for you, it gave me Goosebumps.

Great film

[alanselby-60391 · 10/10 · 12 June 2021]

Shot so well. Gripping. Great soundtrack. Highly recommend.

Really Enjoyed It

[nammage · 8/10 · 22 April 2022]

Truthfully, this typically isn't a film I would normally enjoy as much as I did. The writing was okay. The direction also okay and in some sense: it's your typical gang film yet at the same time, it's not.

I think the character Akilla sees himself in the mute boy. And, we get flashbacks to Akilla's childhood: a father who abused Akilla's mother physically (put her in a coma), and made his young son join his gang and attempted and at times succeeded in getting him to do awful things. Akilla was smart, though, and while there may have been an out for him as a child he still ended up in the gang life but with his soul (if no other better word) still somewhat intact.

I don't think this is a film for everybody. Not the typical gang film but it does have similar incidences of gang life. I enjoyed it, for the most part.

VERY good & smart film!

[RandyThomasFilm · 9/10 · 19 February 2024]

Watched this film at the Tribute to Charles Officer during the Toronto Black Film Festival this weekend.

The acting was fantastic. The use of specific images, angles and symbolism was extremely well done. Very moving.

I am not sure why it has such a low average rating unless people were expecting typical a typical gangster style film. Please know that there is plenty of violence but it isn't gratuitous. It is intelligent and the film portrays good guys & bad guys as smart, street-smart people who live a certain lifestyle that most of us do not understand nor are we exposed to during our own day-to-day lives.

I also really enjoyed the glimpse into the Jamaicn culture.

I highly recommend this film.