Movie Review – ‘No Exit’

Hello everyone! 🙂

Welcome to ‘Bradley’s Basement’ blog and I’m Tim Bradley.

Last weekend, I saw the thriller film ‘No Exit’ on Disney+. Arguably, this is a Star film as opposed to a Disney+ film, but ‘No Exit’ was first released on Hulu by 20th Century Studios (I still feel that it should be called 20th Century Fox). Season 3 of ‘The Orville’ was on Hulu first before it was put on Disney+.

Usually, I’m not one for checking out intense thriller films like ‘No Exit’, which was released in February this year. It was my Dad who suggested we check this film out. I was hesitant, but I was willing to see it, since there was the curious part of me that wanted to see what the film would be like.

Originally, the film was intended for a theatrical release, but it was released for streaming online instead. Upon its release, the film received mixed reviews from critics, who said that it was a popcorn film. Well, I can tell you; I didn’t eat popcorn whilst watching the film, so it can’t be true. 😀

‘No Exit’ is based on the 2017 novel of the same name by Taylor Adams. It focuses on a recovering drug addict named Darby who discovers a kidnapping in progress whilst stranded at a rest stop during a blizzard. There are four suspects at the rest stop. Darby soon uncovers who the culprit is. 😐

Now, there’s no denying that ‘No Exit’ is a gripping film, especially as you’re wanting to find out what the mystery to the kidnapping is and how Darby survives the nightmarish aspects of the story. It’s also intriguing how this film presents a recovering drug addict coping with this particular situation. 🙂

With that said, this isn’t really the kind of film that I would want to see again and again. Now if you’re into these kinds of films, then that’s fine. But I found the film’s tone too serious. There weren’t enough lighter moments to ease the tension, apart from the ‘BS’ card-playing game scene. 🙂

Even then, you’re working out the characters’ motivations as Darby works out who committed the kidnapping and what the reasons behind it are. It’s fine for a thriller film as this, but it left me feeling overwhelmed with so much tension going on and I had to watch a ‘Mr. Bean’ episode afterwards. 😀

And I get that it’s kind of the point to feel tense and unsettled by a film such as this. This is definitely an 18-rated film, especially with quite a lot of blood and violence in the film’s second half. But again, this isn’t the film I would want to see again and again, as I prefer more fun-filled romped adventures.

The film’s cast is pretty good. Havana Rose Liu is very good playing Darby Thorne, and it’s interesting how she tries to get to see her mother in hospital whilst diverted at the rest stop before discovering the kidnapping in progress. There’s also Danny Ramirez as Ash, who’s one of the suspects in the film.

I’ve come across Danny Ramirez before in ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ series and ‘Top Gun: Maverick’. The other three suspects in the film are David Rysdahl as Lars, Dale Dickey as Sandi, and Dennis Haysbert as Ed, Sandi’s husband. There’s Mila Harris as Jay, who is the film’s kidnapped girl. 🙂

The film also has Benedict Wall as Corporal Ron Hill, Lisa Zhang as Devon, Darby’s sister, and Hweiling Ow as Darby’s mother (although I don’t think we see much of her in this film). It’s interesting the film ends with Darby being visited by her sister, as she was rejected for the most part.

‘No Exit’ has undeniably been a gripping film to watch on Disney +/Star, but I wouldn’t say it’s a favourite of mine. In a strange way, I’m glad I’ve seen the film to get into the thriller aspects of it. The film’s cast are also very good, but I’m not likely to see the film again with it being mostly serious.

Thanks for reading!

Bye for now!

Tim 🙂