'90s Trash?: No Escape (1994)

A look at future bleaker than our Present- why not?!?  

This is No Escape, a 1994 Film made for HBO back in the day.  I'd joke about how I 'miss' HBO producing Films, but it will probably happen again with HBO Max in the near future.  

Besides, wasn't Watchmen just an 8-Hour Film Event anyhow?  

The Story involves a man- Ray Liotta- being sent to a Super Prison for his crimes.  That's only part of the Plot, however, as he is then sent to a SECOND Super Prison not 10 minutes later.  Why not skip right to this?  After all, he never returns to the FIRST Prison, so what was the point?  

The Film comes to us from Martin Campbell, a New Zealand Director who is notable for doing Goldeneye, the *third* Casino Royale, The Mask of Zorro and..... Green Lantern.  

Aw, I still like you, Film- even if your Star won't stop making fun of you.  

It was filmed in Australia- hence the tag- and really highlights the rugged beauty of the locations.  Of course, people are constantly trying to kill each other here, so it makes a slightly worse Travelogue than Midsommar.  

The Film has mostly been forgotten, although it did get a game on both Super Nintendo and Genesis.  You have that one, Bob?  

It doesn't have a Blu-Ray Release yet, at least not in America.  My DVD was made in 1998, so it might be older than some people reading this- congrats!  

Is the Film worth a look?  To find out, read on...

In 2022, the Prison System has been privatized.  Reality beat you for once, Movie!

Also thanks for inspiring The Condemned.

He's sent to a Prison run by Michael Lerner, but manages to get a gun drawn on him within 24 hours.

Better to take him out before he appears in Atlas Shrugged, Part 1.  He'll thank you for it later.

He's sent to the Prison where the other 96% of the Film takes place.

Liotta is offered a chance to join the Cannibals, but he quickly turns on them to escape.

He's saved from a fall off of a waterfall and taken to one of my Settlements from Fallout 4.

He makes lots of new friends, including Ernie Hudson, Kevin Dillon and Lance Henriksen.

Wait- Lance was in The Omen 2 and Lerner was in The Omen IV.  Any more Omen Actors in this I should know about?

The cannibals attack in a bit set piece battle!  This sets up a Plot Point where BOTH CAMPS have Spies in them.  How convenient.

The Villain here is played by Stuart Wilson, who was a bit typecast in the 1990s.
Don't believe me?

Well, he was the Villain in Lethal Weapon III, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, The Mask of Zorro AND Exit to Eden.  Damn.

The people in the Camp are secretly plotting their escape, but it isn't easy with attack helicopters watching the perimeter.  

This reveals the presence of their spy in the camp, although he's not discovered personally just yet.

After trying to leave, Liotta steals something from the bad guys' camp, although Dillon is killed in the process.

He lures them into a trap at the Camp and blows them up...in a shot that is in every Trailer.  Nice SPOILERS, guys!

Liotta has the big battle with Wilson, who somehow escaped the explosion.  

In the process, Henriksen is killed, leaving Liotta to carry his diary of what happened on the Island.

He escapes said Island when he spots the traitor working for the Warden- who they occasionally would cut to- and make him set a trap.

Thankfully, the Warden flies there IN PERSON so he could get left to be eaten by Cannibals.  The End.

A pretty decent Film, even if it isn't that inspired.  This is specifically based on a 1987 Book, but it certainly feels more generic.  

I mean, what else is in this Film that you haven't seen before?  

The Pacing is weird too, as mentioned.  Right off the bat, the opening Credits take ages.  It is just that one shot I used as the Title Card and the words change...but that's it.  

No motion.  

No sound.  

Just staring at a still, motionless image while you see who's in the Film.  

When they are done, EXPLOSION.  Ahhh, I'm awake- honest!  

Once he's in Prison, he's taken right to the Warden.  He's done nothing personally to him, but we need to establish the hatred right away!  

Literally 2 Scenes later, he's taken to the Island.  Bye, Super Prison who we clearly spent countless hours on the Model for.  

On the Island, he pretty much immediately attacks and runs from the bad guys, despite them wanting to take him in.  It only settles down once he gets to Camp- finally!  

In the Film's defense, it looks lovely, and its practical effects look nice.  The sets feel fully realized and they look 'lived in.'  I wish I could have gotten more engaged with the Plot, but the Writing wasn't as strong as the Set Decoration and Prop Manufacturing.  I picked a weird train to hitch my support to, I know.  

If you get more invested in the Plot, this will be a stronger Film for you.  It does feature one notable achievement- it clearly inspired the Saw Franchise.

Next up, I jump ahead to look at the original Remakes of The Grudge.  Will I be able to make more sense out of these than the Originals?  Stay tuned...