No Escape (I) (2015) User Reviews

Unexpected... Bravo!

[palavitsinis · 7/10 · 4 November 2015]

Going to watch a movie with Owen Wilson starring, you usually expect some kind of comedy or romance. Not this time. I was really worried that he would not be up to the task with this one, but this was not true, not true at all!

The movie was fascinating, completely plausible, filled with amazing scenes that keep you at the edge of your seat. The things that this family goes through were unimaginable but very well executed during filming.

Owen was that good that you could actually empathize with his suffering and anxiety and put yourself in his position struggling for his family. Pierce Brosnan was AMAZING! Just the right amount, just as much as needed, to complement a really thrilling movie!

Recommended for sure! Can't wait to see more stuff like that from Owen Wilson!

What if you're a Westerner and get stuck in a political uprising in Southeast Asia?

[Wuchakk · 8/10 · 11 March 2021]

An American family moves to a country in Southeast Asia that borders Vietnam but suddenly find themselves in the midst of a coup. Owen Wilson plays the father and Lake Bell the mother. Pierce Brosnan is on hand as a Brit that helps them out.

"No Escape" (2015) is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that tackles a real-life possibility. What happens if you're unexpectedly thrust into a situation where you HAVE to protect your family? Would you kill to survive? This is like "The Killing Fields" (1985) in the modern day, albeit way more compelling and succinct.

It's nice to see Owen in something serious; he plays the every-man role well. Meanwhile Lake ain't no slouch and Brosnan kicks axx in a peripheral part.

The film runs 1 hour, 43 minutes, and was shot in Thailand.

GRADE: A-/B+

A real surprise find - well worth a watch

[richard-davis-987-676615 · 7/10 · 3 November 2015]

NOTE: I've skirted around some of the key thrilling episodes that occur within the film, but I feel I've talked about them without actually giving anything away. I don't think this review requires a spoiler alert!

I watched this having heard absolutely nothing about it, and having not even heard of it. I caught the picture of the cover art, and it seemed like it was Wilson and Brosnan, so thought I'd take a look.

Right from the off - it had the feel of something everso slightly different from the normal action film fodder. I won't ruin the surprise beginning, and then it cuts to the Wilson based family heading into this unnamed Asian country for a job-move.

From almost upon arrival and for the rest of the film, it's something of a thrill ride. I found myself particularly enthralled when Bell was trapped in their hotel room at the beginning of events - something about the acting and the filming really conveyed real fear and this totally hooked me in. It was clear that this was going to be a decent film from this moment on. It has a slightly "handicam" film-making quality about it, but in this instance, it absolutely adds to the feel imho.

From the hotel rooftop to the adjacent, again, it conveyed real fear. Would you do that with your family? Shocking from a parents point of view, but believable in that you'd have no choice. From a parental perspective - totally shocking and enthralling. My wife happened to walk into the room just at this point, and she was definitely mentally scarred by what she saw!

And there it goes on - for me, the only real slight let-downs in the movie are when Brosnan re-finds the family which in such a scenario really isn't likely to have happened, and indeed what Bell does whilst they are hiding in the old man's garden. I don't feel that a mother, protecting her children would have done that.

Apart from these small elements of storyline which probably allowed a little too much implausibility, along with just how much difficulty with the local rebels Wilson's character was realistically likely to overcome and deal with, particularly towards the end of the film - even with full adrenalin running were the only small faults.

Still, having said all that - I'll be watching this again soon. It was quite a thrill ride and most certainly not wholesome family entertainment. There's some really quite surprisingly graphic scenes of violence, which totally suited the film, but definitely not for young eyes.

This movie is way underrated!

[rachelvick-55947 · 9/10 · 29 November 2020]

My husband and I are big into movies of all genres and appreciate quality. We loved this movie. It was very intense/stressful with suspense from beginning to end. It speaks to what parents/family would do for each other. We had never seen Owen Wilson in a role like this, but thought he and Lake Bell did a phenomenal job! Believable performances by all. Even the kids did great. This movie is very underrated!

A good story, well told

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 5 June 2016]

A good story, well told is how I would describe this above-average American thriller that actually manages a certain level of intensity and momentum, two qualities I always look out for in my movies. It's a simple action thriller with a focus on movement and escape, as an American family visiting an unnamed south-east Asian country find themselves caught up in a coup and must literally flee for their lives.

The reason NO ESCAPE is so effective is because the storyline is a believable one. There's a decent sense of realism built up from the outset and just enough time given to develop the characters before throwing them into the deep end. I admit I was a bit nonplussed about the casting of Owen Wilson, but he was acceptable as the lead just as he was in the non-comedy BEHIND ENEMY LINES all those years ago. The rest of the cast have little to work with, but Pierce Brosnan brings a wry humour as the British tourist the family hook up with at their hotel.

The thriller sequences set in and around the hotel are by far the best bit of this film; they're edge of the seat stuff, with great cinematography to boost the action. After this point, the film drops down a notch and is never quite as thrilling; plus, I always dislike action set at night, because you can never see properly what's going on. Still, the hotel scenes alone are enough to make this a worthwhile watch.

A must see, and a vastly underrated movie.

[m-soroczynski · 7/10 · 25 November 2015]

No Escape is one of the best action/thrillers of recent times. It isn't one of those movies that will be spoken about for years too come, but we must give credit where it is needed.

No Escape is a gripping, intense, cleverly put together movie. From the beginning the movie sets us up with the motives of why the family is moving and you feel connected with the main character Jack (Owen Wilson)who just wants to do whats best for his family. Seeing and loving, Owen Wilson is more comedic roles i didn't know how he would fair up is this action pact thriller, but i must admit, there may be a new genre around the corner and maybe another huge turning point in his career, sending him among the greats.

The film's writers have a lot to do with the success of this film, its script never dumbs down for the viewers, it is a script of what people would actually say and conversations that would actually happen in this situation. It makes you feel for the characters in the film and helps you to understand what is going on. You will feel apart of it. it cleverly leaves out all of the irrelevant details, keeping viewers guessing about what will happen next and how they will get out of a very sticky situation, while the mayhem continues around our main characters.

No Escape hits the ground running and never takes its foot off of the gas petal. Tensions are high and there is moments when you question how they are going to get out of an outrageously dangerous, near impossible situation. But it is not a movie where you feel as though the main character will survive no matter what. There are times where his death looks likely.

No Escape is a strong emotional and physical battle for survival and will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

7.5/10

A must see, and a vastly underrated movie.

An enjoyable ride hampered by illogical missteps & blatant stereotyping

[MinistryofDoom · 6/10 · 24 July 2018]

This Owen Wilson/Lake Bell driven action film is an enjoyable yet difficult experience. It's strengths are in it's ability to depict the isolationd felt by expatriates in foreign lands far removed from the comforts and routines of which they are familiar. Place that into the context of a civil uprising in an un-named 3rd world country where they are not only unable to communicate and traverse the unknown landscape but are incapable of knowing whom are friends and foes, and you have a true thrill ride. The problem is that it is also difficult to watch as certain illogical missteps are made which ultimately put the family in far greater jeopardy, defying common sense, and threatening their survival. It also attempts to make a political statement though it is difficult to understand what that statement is, since it is lost in the clutter of the film's plot. What we do know is that an expatriate engineer travels to a non-descript Asian country (which borders Vietnam) along with his family to work on a project and almost immediately a violent uprising breaks out between armed civilians and riot police whom are quickly and easily dispatched. After that no where else in the entire film do we see any authority figures attempting to restore order (it seems that the civilians in the span of an hour have taken over the entire country and killed all the security officers). The civilians then begin to hunt down and publicly execute foreigners for unknown reasons. The US Embassy is completely destroyed. American soldiers are lying dead at it's doorstep but killed them and why? Why does the country's population hate foreigners? Why are the committing public executions? Where are the government officials? Where are the security forces? Why are all the civilians depicted as barbaric violent savages? None of these questions are ever answered; all we know is that a man, his wife, and two daughters are attempting to flee the country before they are killed. The film wants us to focus on their process of fleeing and not to question why they are fleeing and so we have action-packed thriller that is extremely light on context and does not provide much substance story-wise.

Very Good Movie Ignore the Low Reviews

[imvaughn · 6/10 · 9 January 2023]

I really enjoyed the movie and don't get the low reviews. Someone said it was racist brown vs white. Asians aren't brown. There's no racism in the movie. This is a story about an American family who is trying to survive a coup. Very simple concept but executed beautifully.

It's pretty much intense from 15 mins until the ending. I was on the edge of my seat hoping they made it. Owen Wilson shines in this movie. Kids though annoying did a good job. This isn't a thought provoking movie. It's a movie where you will love it if you love simple action movies.

Also not sure why the roof throwing scene gets cropped on. Seems reasonable to me Stuck on roof with bad guys with guns and can't go down jump across to the other building.

This movie did make me scared to go to another country.. reminds you to appreciate the freedoms and stability American has.

Suspenseful thriller 7.5/10

[welhof1 · 7/10 · 15 March 2023]

I'm surprise I had never heard of this movie because it sounds like something I would enjoy. I ended up randomly coming across it one night and was pleasantly surprised.

The city was beautiful. I believe they may have been in Thailand? All the alleys and stuff they ran through was all pretty cool.

My main issue was where was the government? There was this huge coup going on and I don't recall seeing one police officer or military personnel. Just a bunch of thugs.

Also, I almost turned it off when that one guy shot the other guy in the head with a pistol from about 1000 feet. No way.

Overall, just a enjoyable, thriller, and definitely worth a watch. Owen Wilson is always fun.

Don't bother

[readeastofeden · 2/10 · 29 May 2016]

The ridiculous plot, bad editing, bad music, generic setting, bad Asian stereotypes, and unrealistic characters make this movie a waste of time. There is non-stop action, but it isn't good.

Pierce Brosnan has a couple of funny lines, but he cannot save this train wreck. The writing is so bad it makes Owen Wilson into a complete moron.

A no-name "scary Asian" country has a coup, and Wilson is stuck trying to get his family out. As soon as he notices there is a coup, which is almost immediately, he is on the run. But it is an absurd, laughable run, one in which bad editing, stupid slow-mo, and ridiculous music do not enhance a bad writing job. Things like: let's zoom in the the license plate of the scooter for no apparent reason, or, how about show that Wilson dropped his goofy city map so we can make you think he is lost for 2 seconds until he looks up to see the obvious hotel that he is running to, or how about the really bad "Asians eat dogs" stereotype? I can go on, but stop now and save yourself two hours.

Someone in some review called this an "important" movie, which made me want to cry for our stupidity. If by important, they meant the three minutes that Brosnan talks about the great "evil American corporation," I am not sure, but that corny, weak attempt to get political was a serious fail. There are many things corporations are guilty of, but this movie will not in any way remedy any of them.

Wow! - That's the only summary needed

[drwb-87210 · 25 August 2015]

I walked into this movie with very low expectations and I was tired. This movie stars Owen Wilson in an Action/Thriller...not a comedy. That's not saying his comedies are that great, either. But this film wow-ed me. I literally said, "wow" out loud in the theater.

The start of the movie was very captivating. Enough action was in before the titles even came on, then unexpected humor. Kenny Rogers even showed up (not really, but you'll see what I mean)! Overall, Owen Wilson and his family are placed in extremely difficult situations to which it seems that there is little to no escape. The plot alone deserves at least a 4.5 of 5 stars. Coupled with the 5 star acting of not only Wilson, but the children! These kids were absolutely astounding and very convincing! Even Pierce Brosnan was a wonderful addition to the movie, with his excellent comedic timing. I will say that the comedy's placement messed with me because the movie was that stressful. Perhaps the only issue I had was the ending. It just could have been better writing. Direction and acting get 5 stars from me, and the soundtrack about a 4 for its excellent suspense addition. I did not expect this movie to be great, but I had trouble getting to sleep afterwards because I was so stressed out! This movie deserves at least a 4.5 of 5 stars! I would pay to see this movie!

Stranger

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 7 October 2016]

If you are new to a country, you may not be aware of the political climate, let alone know your way around (geographically speaking, but also conversation wise of course). That's the case here and what the movie is based on. You may argue that it portrays countries with lesser wealth than the industrial countries in a bad light. And I wouldn't necessarily argue against that. But it would damp and hinder you to enjoy the ride this movie otherwise is able to take you on.

So if you can suspend your disbelief and want to go on a ride, this movie will be able to be the thriller for the family man/woman in you. Predictable to a degree and with a great appearance by former Bond Pierce Brosnan, this has all the tension you need.

An Easy 8

[lavaside-60237 · 8/10 · 22 June 2023]

I don't know how anyone could watch this film and not be on the edge of their seat from start to finish.

If there is any downside to this film - it is that it is so intense - that it makes you deliberate rewatching it, BECAUSE you know what you went through the first time. Lol Owen Wilson knocks it out of the park, and should be on lists for future dramatic roles.

If you want a gem to watch with company, that they've probably never heard of, this is it.

Don't tell them you've seen it before - or they will drive you crazy with questions, as the angst builds and builds.

It even serves as a 'teaching tool' if you have children you're worried about getting you caught in a life or death scenario.

The younger the better. I don't care if it gives them nightmares.

Those nightmares might save your life one day.

Owen Wilson is so good in serious roles !!

[tanpurepiyush · 8/10 · 21 November 2015]

I always enjoyed Owen Wilson's comedies but I still recall his Behind Enemy lines role and he did it so perfect! In this movie too, I did expect him to do a fantastic job in a serious role and he just crosses all your expectations! Pierce Brosnon was was amazing in this movie, though not that much of a screen time he shares, but shines in whatever time he gets on screen. The child actors and the female lead did their job fair n square. The slow motions used are so perfectly timed in this movie and go so well with the background scores.

It was intense and captivating throughout! A perfect "escape movie" with tensions not subduing for any time at all. Excellent editing and direction with good enough production values and cast. There are some very intense action scenes throughout! This movie is I guess one of the underrated gems! Do watch it.

There are some nice action sequences in this movie, but they are probably not enough to save it from mediocrity

[moviexclusive · 6/10 · 26 August 2015]

Nope, there will never be world peace. And movies like this thriller directed by John Erick Dowdle (Quarantine, Devil) are not really helping. This is not a bad thing though, considering the global mess that's happening outside our safe and sanitised homes. There is, to a certain extent, some truth in every other seemingly B grade action movie exploring the themes of international unrest.

The story penned by the director and his brother Drew Dowdle sees an American businessman moving to an unnamed country in Southeast Asia(nice try, film producers, for attempting not to anger any of our regional neighbours) and finding themselves in the middle of a coup. From there, you see the family of four frantically trying to escape (there are lots of running, sweating and hiding) the violence and bloodshed that's around them.

The first thing you'd be concern about is the casting of Asians as the supposed villains in the 103 minute movie. Yup, Asians are conveniently depicted as the evil "others", wielding their guns and choppers, going around killing innocent victims. Countless people die, but as you can probably expect, not the white family viewers are supposed to root for.

One thing you may eventually realise though (if you haven't either completely shut off or immersing yourself in the action), is how every member of the global community has a part to play to reach this messy stage where unrest lurks in every corner of our world.

There is lots of collateral damage in the movie. You see buildings collapse, explosions going off and almost everything in sight breaking apart. If you're looking for a movie with in depth character study, you may want to look elsewhere.

Hence, as a popcorn flick, this movie doesn't fare too bad. Funnyman Owen Wilson (yup, an odd choice as the leading man in an action movie) does a decent job – you almost emphatise with him for having to go through what looks like a very strenuous shoot. He is paired up with LakeBell, who portrays a foreigner out of her comfort zone pretty well. And then there are the two child actors to tug at your heartstrings. Completing the picture is Pierce Brosnan, who reminds you how the years haven't been kind to the suave actor who made countless females swoon with his rendition of James Bond.

The action sequences in the movie are nicely paced – watch out for a scene where Wilsonhas to bring his family to an adjacent building by convincing his wife that she can jump across the rooftop, and brace yourself for this: flinging his children across to the other side. While you may think to yourself "yah… right", but you have to admit there won't be any casualties or things will end up looking pretty ugly.

We are guessing this movie won't go down too well with critics, and probably won't have much box office impact. But as a casual viewer, this isn't all that bad.

A complete waste of time.

[zhivkokulev · 1/10 · 8 February 2016]

It looks like this movie was made by Americans who have had an overall bad experience in South-East Asia. The plot is dumb and it doesn't make any sense as they don't even mention the name of the country they're in. There's no much story behind it and I would define this as a narrow-minded movie showing how 'brave' the Americans are and insulting Thailand at the same time (I am quite sure this is where the movie had been filmed). Honestly, I don't understand how a movie like this can get such a high grade. I have traveled most of Asia, I have met the kindest people in the world over there and I find this movie offensive and inappropriate. Surely, most of the Americans are now never going to visit Asia just because of what they saw in this movie. Don't waste your time on it. A complete joke.

Intense and gritty, but a pleasant little gem. 8/10

[Epsilon_Pegasi · 19 August 2015]

I had the opportunity to see this at an advanced screening tonight in the Portland area. I went in knowing very little about it other than its rating and what it was rated for. I'll tell you, this movie pushed my limits for intensity, and I'm none-too-squeamish.

It's not necessarily gory, though there is a fair amount of blood, but it's sure as hell intense. The elements I believe worked in favor of this movie was the human story the filmmakers built in the beginning. There was a rapport with the family, and as things started to heat up, I genuinely cared about what happened to the family. I was hoping for a happy ending, but with the film's gritty nature, I honestly didn't know how the third act would unfold.

This movies holds onto you and doesn't let go. When there is a breath of fresh air, you as the viewer best take it, because it'll get right back into the thick of it. I wonder how well this movie will do financially with the little (to none) marketing that's going into it. I didn't even know what the movie was until Regal Cinemas invited me in for the screening. It's a bit intense, and the squeamish had every right to stand up and leave. Not many did, but I don't blame them. There were a few instances where it grew a bit too much for me.

I don't want to give much away, because honestly I believe this film will do well if the viewer knows as little as possible. This isn't a date night film. It's not for the faint of heart. If you want to be pleasantly surprised, though, I'd give this film a go. There was one instance I had to suspend belief, but hey, it's a movie, and its sins don't compare to what the filmmakers got right.

I'd rate it a solid 8/10. To me as a rater, an 8/10 is just about as good as a little film like this can achieve. Higher marks are usually reserved for truly great films, which this is not truly great, but it's "enjoyable" if you can stand being on the edge of your seat once the action gets going.

Some holes in the plot but It has a solid message

[sabra-j · 7/10 · 29 November 2015]

I didn't have high expectations for the picture before watching, given the rating and having seen that it's an Action with Owen Wilson (you know) and Pierce Brosnan whom I haven't enjoyed seeing him in any pictures since 007, This movie has proved to deserve a rating higher than it's current 6.8. the message it sends is clear and courageous as to expose that western politics do have interests in other lands and they would do above and beyond to reach their goals. while the plot had a dimension of truth in that, and it also contains some highly thrilling scenes that will put you on edge at different points of the movie... in summary i enjoyed watching this picture and I would wish more producers and directors would work more towards producing movies with such courageous message to make people aware of how things are in this world.

Classic Movie!

[abarnathangavel · 7/10 · 28 August 2015]

I was blown away about how intense and suspenseful the film us. The direction by John Erick Dowdle was excellent, as he knew how to perfectly craft this suspenseful atmosphere. I was on the edge of my seat during 90% of this movie... the comparison I make is that it felt like this was a Pierce Brosnan action movie, but told from the perspective of the family he's trying to protect.

Score one for Owen Wilson. Wilson, more known for his off-beat comedies such as "Wedding Crashers," "Marley & Me," and "Hall Pass," breaks out of these roles and stars in his own action-sequence movie. As in most action movies, the outcomes are predictable but this movie will surely leave you with some surprises.

Wow! An interesting and intense action adventure covered in drama.

[subxerogravity · 7/10 · 28 August 2015]

I was not expecting much. Definitely was not expecting the action packed drama it turned out to be.

Especially from Owen Wilson and Lake Bell, who look like such an ordinary couple from Austin Texas. it completely side swipes me.

Wilson and Bell are the parental part of a family that includes two single digit girls who movie to Indonesia when daddy gets anew job at a water company, but the company's presence insures a rebellion that the family gets caught up in.

it's a chase for pure survival as they spend a night avoiding getting killed. Weirdly similar to the Purge movies with more of a serious tone to realism that makes the chase touch you more profoundly.

The sound effects were really good at enhancing the pain and the intensity of the whole chase. Every fall, every hit and every shoot made me cringe like I was feeling it myself.

Pierce Brosnan once again gives a great performance as a seasoned action star, like he did in the November Man.

It's not tour typical blockbuster but it should have been. it's hard to put this movie in a precise genre which is why it came out in such an odd time in the summer and I barely herd any advertisement on it, but its definitely worth the watch.

Intense !

[Sexyjay71 · 10/10 · 2 March 2021]

This is a great movie. Very intense. Good action, keeps you engaged and the acting is awesome

This movie is INTENSE

[GonzoHans · 9/10 · 18 June 2021]

I really enjoyed this movie from the plot to the acting and the ending. It was purely intense and will definitely have you on the edge of your seat. The idea of this plot seems very realistic as well and I think Owen Wilson and Lake Bell did a fantastic job together. I can't think of anything that I could criticize this movie for.

Thrilling Movie

[Seasuzie · 7/10 · 8 May 2019]

A family relocates to a foreign country where Owen Wilson's character has new job. This is the story of how a family survives a terrible situation in a foreign country. They have to make some incredibly hard choices to escape from the violence around them. I watched this movie and thought what would I do if I was in this family's situation. Would I survive? I didn't care if the movie was politically correct because it is a movie. In the real world everyday there are horrendous things happening a lot worse than this. This was just a story of a family trying to survive. There were good people and bad people along the way. Just how real life is.

Take a break from the normal Blockbusters - see this!

[Finders1970 · 24 August 2015]

One of the most enthralling movies I have seen for a long time. I have a young family, so in perspective, the sort of movies I have seen at the cinema in the last 5-10 years have been Blockbusters - Disney/Pixar movies,Marvel, or Sci-Fi. So, when me and missus had a chance to go and see something on our own, we lapped it up. Absolutely brilliant movie, with a pace of thrill that never stopped, to the extent that the wife was so into it - she forgot to eat her popcorn! This film drew you in from the word go. Brilliantly directed, and the acting was flawless. Nothing new in terms of corporate/political unrest leading to a massive civilian coup, but the delivery of the story was sublime.

I thought that Owen Wilson and Pierce Brosnan appearing may have made it a bit cheesy - far from it.

Don't get me wrong, this is not Oscar winning drama material, but a good thriller that needs to be seen.

Go see it, but don't take your kids! It is a 15 rating for a reason.

An interesting Asian Exploitation film...

[Coffee_in_the_Clink · 6/10 · 25 August 2020]

Very surprised to find Owen Wilson in the lead here. But that's not to say anything bad about him, on the contrary, I'm full of praise for him and this film. Because what I liked about "No Escape" was the apparent (some may call it ignorant) exploitative nature of it's filmmaking, with action that harks back to a Chuck Norris "Missing in Action" flick from the 1980s, and a theme, storyline that serves the staple for your grungy exploitation film. I am surprised there wasn't much backlash on a mainstream Hollywood film treating a South-East Asian populace as nothing more than a horde of blood-thirsty savages out to kill the white man. That, essentially, is what "No Escape" is. I enjoyed how the country, which was unnamed in order to avoid offence, is still depicted as bordering Vietnam! It's exploitation cinema at its best. Ignorant, you might say. But you could also, in it's defence, say it is a film about a man protecting his wife and children. But let's be honest ... It's just pure simple, unapologetic brainless enjoyment.