No Escape (1994)

Director:

Martin Campbell

Writers (WGA):

Richard Herley (novel)
Michael Gaylin (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

29 April 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

No guards. No walls. No escape.

Plot:

Robbins is sent to prison for the assassination of his general officer, a prison you only get out of when you die...

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Island | Escape | Imprisonment | All Male Cast

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Ray Liotta	...	Capt. J.T. Robbins
Lance Henriksen	...	The Father
Stuart Wilson	...	Walter Marek
Kevin Dillon	...	Casey
Kevin J. O'Connor	...	Stephano
Don Henderson	...	Killian
Ian McNeice	...	King
Jack Shepherd	...	Dysart
Michael Lerner	...	The Warden
Ernie Hudson	...	Hawkins
Russell Kiefel	...	Iceman
Brian M. Logan	...	Scab
Cheuk-Fai Chan	...	Skull
Machs Colombani	...	Ratman
David Argue	...	Cellmate

Also Known As:

Escape from Absolom (Australia)
The Penal Colony (USA) (working title)
The Prison Colony (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

118 min | South Korea:103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:M | South Korea:15 (cut) | Argentina:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:R (Ontario) | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Germany:18 | Norway:18 | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (cut) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

There are strong similarities between the plot of this film and that Robert A. Heinlein's short story "Coventry". Both feature a protagonist who is a convict sent to a futuristic penal system which is actually a wilderness outland whose inhabitants have split off into two warring social factions. In the movie, the hero befriends a character known as The Father; in the short story, the protagonist befriends a man named Fader, which resembles the Dutch word "vader", which means "father".

Quotes:

Marek: I have removed all the heads of state...
[Dumps out sack full of decapitated remains]
Marek: ...I really want to be in charge!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Kicking and Screaming (1995)

Soundtrack:

BOOGIE SHOES

Underrated Prison Action

On the surface, 'No Escape' is just another generic action movie set in a prison environment. An island prison from which escape is impossible? An Alcatraz by any other name... Plus the 'two faction-one nice, one evil' has overtones of Lord of the Flies. While both of the above comments are applicable, the film rises above itself. With good performances from powerful actors such as Ray Liotta and Stuart Wilson, along with a sharp script, 'No Escape' is a hidden gem, and well worth seeking out. Final Score: 7.5/10