No Way Up was never going to be a masterpiece; it’s in the name. This is a low-concept thriller that knows well enough what it is, and on those standards, it could be a lot worse. It’s very much like last year’s underrated, compact romp Sympathy for the Devil; that film, starring Nicolas Cage and Joel Kinnaman, was the same sort of experience that existed solely for the fun of it. The heights of that film’s malicious delight aren’t ever really met here, but the conceptual similarity means this one may be worth a shot for those after that brand of unabashed B-movie entertainment. If that’s you, give it a go regardless.
But, for the most part, No Way Up is unfortunately rather listless. Director Claudio Fäh puts in a commendable effort; there are more than a few examples of compelling visuals and stark displays of tension. The colors are nice, drawn from the environment and exaggerated by the drama, and despite being pretty much contained to one spot for the main chunk of the film, it never really gets old, at least to look at.
The practical effects, too, are gnarly. Blood permeates the water; limbs are severed and people are constantly shouting. These things create a chaotic overlay that works greatly in favor of No Way Up. But as it often goes with films like these, the water rises on the page, and this thing can’t help but sink.
Early on, the screenplay manages some interesting set-up and mild character development. The first ten minutes or so present bite-size bits of humanization as new threads are spun out, begging for a second look before they’re knit up into the swing of things later on. Aside from a pace that makes it impossible to blink without missing something, it’s a decent opening. As soon as the plane takes off and the plot kicks into gear, the wheels fall off fast.
The whole idea of this film revolves around that plane; it crashes into the ocean in a freak accident, trapping our cast of characters in a lone air pocket as it slowly sinks to the bottom. And, go figure, they’re joined by a horde of sharks with a peculiar taste for human blood. Again, this concept isn’t where it goes wrong; there’s plenty of self-aware potential in an idea like this one. But No Way Up insists on taking itself deadly serious, save for a flurry of dead-in-the-water jokes from a character whose sole purpose is to rapid-fire them like a relentless stand-up comic. If only he could hear our boos through the screen.
Since the scant jokes don’t land, you’re left with an experience that feels trapped, though not in any way by the circumstance or in a good way. No, instead this sense of claustrophobia is the type to tire you out, replaying similar scenarios over, and over, and over again. It doesn’t help that the sharks are hardly shown, and when they are, the effects bringing them to life struggle to keep up with the realism the tone and pace posit for the rest of the film.
No Way Up is unfortunate. We need films like these: short and sweet concept adventures that lean into their silliness with pride, ignoring the nitpicks and paying no mind to any imaginable formulation of rules. It’s worth restating, too, that there is still fun to be had here, especially for folks who are partial to this subgenre of absurd thriller moviemaking. Then again, there are significantly better efforts in said genre, some of which have come out within the last year. Don’t fear the waters of No Way Up, you won’t need so much as a floatie. But if you’re feeling a swim, that may mean this’ll do just fine.
No Way Up is currently playing in select theaters and is available on Digital platforms courtesy of RLJE Films.
Don’t fear the waters of No Way Up, you won’t need so much as a floatie. But if you’re feeling a swim, that may mean this’ll do just fine.
-
GVN Rating 4
-
User Ratings (0 Votes)
0