Escape Plan (2013)

Escape Plan (2013)

2013 R 115 Minutes

Action | Thriller

Ray Breslin is the world's foremost authority on structural security. After analyzing every high security prison and learning a vast array of survival skills so he can design escape-proof prisons,...

Overall Rating

6 / 10
Verdict: Good

User Review

  • LoTZofMovies

    LoTZofMovies

    6 / 10
    ESCAPE PLAN
    (Mikael Håfström, 2013)
    _______________
    Story:
    I love prison movies. I love 80s action flick. Heck, this movie was probably shot for me. Does it have cheesy characters? Hell yes. Is the premisse weird? Obviously. Are the one-liners bad... In a good way? Damn right! This film was shot 30 years too late. I loved the characters, I loved the idea and damn, that supporting cast! Neil and D'Onofrio are almost wasted! Oh, and it has Vinnie Jones in a Vinnie Jones role, bonus points for that. The story does have problems, there are plot holes and sadly the last act ruined a lot of the film. Still: This is exactly what I expect from a Stallone / Schwarzenegger film!

    Style:
    Again, this is just yelling 80s... Tough guys, mean guards... No fancy cinematography needed! The audio is fine, it builds tension and just does it's job! I did like the prison design, which is actually an important part in such a reverse-heist film. Also, there have been a few cool CG / real footage matchcuts!

    Entertainment:
    Well, you could have guessed it... If you like Stallone and / or Arnie, you'll probably enjoy this movie. They drop one-liners, beat up other prisoners and try to escape in a creative manner. The first two acts build up a cool breakout plot with some smart ideas (the opening scene is great!). Sadly, the last act kinda killed it for me. You called this film Escape Plan... You build up a smart Escape Plan... And you finally let the protagonists shoot their way out of the prison. The film switches it's genre in the last act and destroys everythnbg it built up. Damn!

    Conclusion:
    There is not much to say. You like 80s action films? Watch this film, you'll like it. It's just sad, that they completely ruined the film in the last act, when they turn it into a boring action flick. And I mean boring. Uninspired action, so-so one-liners... It has all those cheesy moments I wanted from a film like this. I wanted to love you Escape Plan! If it just could have been a little bit smarter and find a cool ending. Well... At least we got Arnie kicking ass. Fair enough.