Plot Summary
Following a tragedy in their lives, doctors Paul and Kim Jordan decide that it’s time for a change of scenery. Therefore, they accept an opportunity to leave their American comfort behind in order to serve a struggling medical clinic on the streets of Thailand. All seems well until Paul follows a mysterious local boy in order to help a patient unable to come to clinic, only to find himself captured by local traffickers in need of his medical expertise. Separated from his wife, who begins to beg the local authorities for help, Paul seeks moral from his fellow captor, who brings him face to face with the God he has been running from all his life. Together, they must not only plan to escape with their lives, but they must contend with the problem of suffering and how God works in the world.
Production Quality (2.5 points)
For a modest budget, Escape boasts plenty of positive qualities. The camera work is above average, as is the video and sound quality. Though the sets are slightly limited, they are authentic and the crew did good with what they had. The action scenes are well-produced and do not give the appearance of a cheap production. The only caveat here is some indie-ish elements that are very minor and easy to pass over. In short, there is nothing flashy here, but the production quality is solid.
Plot and Storyline Quality (2 points)
Escape explores a genre that is unfortunately often unique to Christian films: suspense adventure. It would have been easy for the plot to come off as shallow and cheesy due to reliance on action sequences, but this did not happen. The plot is simple yet profound; the plot twists are straightforward and while it does not necessarily make waves, it does not crash and burn. The dialogue is solid, which leads to good character development. With the small amount of characters in a limited area, their success is key. They pass the test. The only issues to bring up here are the small scope of the plot and the overall simple feel of the movie. Some parts at the beginning could have been better explored. In the end, the plot is refreshing and the end somewhat unexpected. The crew delivered with limited resources, which is a win.
Acting Quality (2.5 points)
The acting quality is overall professional, with only some minor errors. The cast is small, but they do not commit errors that completely derail the movie. They carry the movie well as they have obviously been coached well. Some of them seem slightly inexperienced, but it is not a big deal. The good thing is that real Asian actors are used rather than forcing white people to seem Asian, as some low cost productions do. Overall, Escape is well-acted.
Conclusion
Escape receives half an x-factor point for dealing with the problem of pain in a very appropriate and poignant manner. This philosophical issue is explored through dialogue and is not shoved down the viewers’ throats. The bottom line is that while Escape is a very simple movie, it is also very deep. Rather than exploring a broad scope, the writers chose quality over quantity. The action elements make for a unique Christian movie and do not detract. In short, Escape is an underrated Christian film that deserves applause.
Final Rating: 7.5 out of 10 points
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