The Year is 2022. John Robbins (Ray Liotta), a former Marine Captain, has been sentenced for assassinating his commanding officer and is banished to a secret and remote prison island run by The Warden (Michael Lerner). In this prison of the future, inhabited by society’s most violent and feared criminals, Robbins is left to the mercy of the elements and his fellow man. He finds the island divided into two camps: The Outsiders, led by the brutal and bloodthirsty Marek (Stuart Wilson); and The Insiders, led by the strong-willed, benevolent Father (Lance Henriksen) and his followers Hankins (Ernie Hudson) and Casey (Kevin Dillon). Robbins doesn’t care to join either – his one aim is to break free of an island from which there is no escape. To aid him, he steals a powerful and destructive weapon from The Outsiders, sparking off a major war between the two encampments. Now bloody battle and the brutality of hand-to-hand combat will take many lives before Robbins can think of freedom again. Trapped on an island where nature can be as deadly as man, there is only one thought which keeps Robbins alive… escape…escape…escape.
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Video Quality
Unearthed Films presents No Escape with a strong upgrade in the form of a new 1080p master transfer in 2.40:1. This is not noted as being a fresh new scan, but the state of the master utilized seems to be pretty pleasing overall. The transfer provides lovely natural film grain absent of any compression artifacts or other such damage. The film does have a fine layer of minor nicks and scratches that pop up, but there is very little in the way of overly distracting damage or dirt detected here.
There are notable subtleties when it comes to fine detail that should please fans of the film. Distinct details in the landscape standout more than ever before, such as the sharp points of the rocks or distinct edges of leaves. The film features some splendid colors within nature that pop off the screen with a great vibrancy. There are areas of the film which take place more so in shadow which look a bit rough in comparison to the remainder of the film, but these moments are relatively brief. This presentation is another instance of Unearthed Films rescuing an overlooked gem.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray comes with formidable DTS-HD 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 tracks that bring this film to life quite splendidly. The surround sound track is especially enjoyable as the sounds of the jungle fill up the rear channels for a very three dimensional experience. The low end packs a punch when appropriate such as in the case of explosions. The momentous score from Graeme Revell is delivered with a depth of clarity which audiences will appreciate. Dialogue comes through clearly alongside environmental noises which are represented in perfect harmony with all competing elements. This track shows no major age related wear and tear such as hissing or popping. This disc maintains an impeccable sense of fidelity which brings this movie to life exactly how it deserves. There are also optional English, English (SDH) and French subtitles included for the feature film.
Special Features
- Welcome To The Future – The Sci-Fi Worlds Of Gale Anne Hurd: A 17-minute audio interview with producer Gale Anne Hurd conducted by Daniel Griffith in which she speaks about her early childhood fascination with sci-fi and horror, working with Roger Corman, her career at large, collaborations with Martin Campbell, the changes from the source material, shooting in Australia, the practical effects and more.
- Survival Of The Fittest – Directing No Escape: A 14-minute audio interview with director Martin Campbell in which he discusses his early career, his initial reason for turning down No Escape, the financiers turning down a young Russell Crowe, the character arcs, the staging and subsequent subversion of the final battle and more.
- Penal Colony – Writing No Escape: A ten-minute audio interview with Daniel Griffith in which he discusses his early entry into the industry, what he wanted to accomplish with this adaptation, the themes underneath and much more.
- Alternate Intro: A two-minute intro that mirrors the actual beginning of the film only with the alternate title of Escape From Absolom.
- Making Of Escape From Absolom: A 28-minute archival featurette in which the cast and creative discuss the story as a whole, the stunt work, the experiences on location, the performances and much more from the time of production.
- Vintage Featurette: A six-minute piece which plays out like an extended promotional piece.
- Promotional Gallery: A collection of stills from the production, promotional material and more.
- Trailers: The disc provides the Theatrical Trailer (2:10) and four TV Spots (0:30 x 4). There are also trailers provided for Dark Side of the Moon, Nightwish, The Unnamable, and The Old Man Movie.
Final Thoughts
No Escape is the type of film which should have been a major staple on cable television over the years instead of the relatively unknown entity it is most widely defined as. Ray Liotta is a terrific leading man in a more action-driven setting, and the colorful ensemble balances his intensity amazingly well. The bigger set pieces may not reach the heights of other action-adventure films, but they are very well choreographed and captured by director Martin Campbell. Unearthed Films has provided a new Blu-Ray featuring a fetching A/V presentation and a fine assortment of special features. This genre-spanning adventure is well worth a watch from film fans. Recommended
No Escape is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Unearthed Films has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.