Skip to main content

No Escape (1994)


No Escape, released in some countries as Escape from Absolom and Absolom 2022, is a 1994 American science fiction action film directed by Martin Campbell. It stars Ray Liotta, Lance Henriksen, Stuart Wilson, Kevin Dillon, Michael Lerner and Ernie Hudson. It was based on the 1987 novel The Penal Colony by Richard Herley. The film began in production development on May 17, 1993 and lasted until August of that year. It was filmed in Australia, primarily in New South Wales.

Robbins is sentenced to prison for the assassination of his general officer, a prison you leave only when you die. Since nobody ever leaves the prison, nobody knows what the prison is like. The prison manager realizes this and buys himself an island playground called "Absolom," where the worst prisoners are free to create an isolated barbaric society, and where the strongest men rule...a living hell. Robbins is sent to Absolom after he almost kills the prison manager.

Freddy and Krasnaya Movie Review
***SPOILER ALERT***

K: Today we have the film "No Escape", where Ray Liotta plays the leading role. Before watching, Freddie immediately told me that the film was wonderful (since he watched it as a child) and I tuned in to a great pastime. I can say that even though I'm not a fan of prison or action films, I liked "No Escape". The film turned out to be an interesting combination of very beautiful nature and real prison hopelessness, flavored with a good plot and bright acting. The movie's estimated 20 million budget did its job: the film is rich in spectacular mass battles, explosions, and magnificent scenery. I really liked the costumes of the characters; it is clear that the costume designer approached the matter with love; the helmets of each of the captive insiders are a work of art!

F: How is it possible that I couldn't remember that I had already watched this movie a million times before? I had "Escape from Absolom" (the release name in my country) recorded on a VHS. This is back from that time when I still had heroes to look up to. Max Rockatansky was my number one hero, but I remember also being inspired by Ray Liotta's bad assness in this movie. In behavior, Captain Robbins (Ray Liotta) is a very similar character to Max. I always saw that as a rip off and I'm pretty certain that this movie had Mad Max as a reference in the making. But I still enjoyed the movie very much back then. It has lots of great action scenes and enough bloody violence to make unsupervised kids very happy.

About the costumes, unlike you, I can remember clearly that, just like today, as the first time I saw the movie, I thought they sucked. They have a very b-movie look to me . I also don't understand the meaning of the "star wars" uniform guards at the beginning of the film, they just look silly.

Escape from Absolom Opening scene gif
This is a beautiful opening scene. I would call it aesthetic violence.
K: As I already mentioned, all the main characters have bright and interesting personalities, they are eye-catching. All the actors played their roles perfectly. Ray Liotta as Capt. J.T. Robbins is very charismatic, he perfectly conveyed through his character the main idea of the film that you need to remain human in any situation, no matter what.

F: As soon as I started watching this I could remember everything about the movie. I even said "Now, that's fun!" at the same time as Marek in the scene from the GIF below. So, replaying this movie wasn't all that fun. I knew everything that was going to happen and that made me a bit sleepy. I couldn't make it to the last scene with the helicopter and was already snoring on the couch. The movie will get some points for the nostalgia, but it pains me to say that I don't think that this is a movie worth rewatching as an adult.

I believe Marek (Stuart Wilson) is the most interesting character in the movie because of his sadistic sense of humor. He would fit the Mad Max universe perfectly. I also liked to see Ernie Hudson playing Hawkins, more nostalgia points right there. He was curiously in this movie because he wanted to be as far away as possible from the US since the tragic incident in the recordings of his last movie "The Crow". My absolute favorite movie from this era. The Crow and Mad Max, yep, those were my two main heroes. I love pain and suffering, it seems.

decapitating scene no escape from absolom gif
Best scene.
K: Now we are in 2022, the year the movie takes place. Freddy, do you think such a prison-island already exists somewhere on our planet? Summing up, my verdict - watch the movie and find out if it's really possible to leave this island of Absolom, which is saturated with blood and cruelty.

F: I think that there are islands worse than Absolom. Remember Little Saint James Island? I think some really nasty stuff was happening there. Anyway, if you have never watched this movie before, I think it is really worth a watch if you like action, adventure and a little intrigue. Just don't mind the stupid-looking 90's future technology. I can't get past those huge computer TV screens from 2022. 😂

Escape from Absolom technology gif
The world in 2022. 👀
Freddy's Score: 62/100
Krasnaya's Score: 65/100

FINAL SCORE

MAKING OFF

NO ESCAPE AMAZING OPENING SCENE

Our blog is update everyday at 21:00 (WEST)

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Straw (2025)

Plot Summary: Janiyah Wiltkinson (Taraji P. Henson), a desperate single mother of a seriously ill daughter, spirals through eviction, job loss, and tragedy in one catastrophic day. In a last-ditch attempt to get medicine, she starts a bank standoff — but a shocking twist reveals her daughter actually died hours earlier, and Janiyah has been dissociating from reality. Eventually, with support from a bank manager and detective, she surrenders peacefully amid growing public sympathy. Director & Writer: Tyler Perry Producer(s): Tyler Perry Cinematography: Justyn Moro Music: Dara Taylor Editing: Nick Coker Cast: Taraji P. Henson as Janiyah Wiltkinson Sherri Shepherd as Nicole (bank manager) Teyana Taylor as Detective Raymond Sinbad as Benny Glynn Turman as Richard (Janiyah’s boss) Rockmond Dunbar as Chief Wilson Ashley Versher as Tessa  ...

Deep Cover (2025)

Plot Summary: An improv comedy teacher (Bryce Dallas Howard) and two of her students (Orlando Bloom, Nick Mohammed) are recruited by a corrupt cop (Sean Bean) to go undercover. They infiltrate London's criminal world, using their acting skills to catch a gang, only to find themselves deeper in danger and needing to improvise their way out. Director: Tom Kingsley Screenplay: Colin Trevorrow, Derek Connolly, Ben Ashenden, Alexander Owen Producers: Colin Trevorrow, Walter F. Parkes, Laurie MacDonald Music: Daniel Pemberton Cinematography: Will Hanke Starring: Bryce Dallas Howard as Kat Boyles Orlando Bloom as Marlon Swift Nick Mohammed as Hugh Sean Bean as DS Graham Billings Paddy Considine as Fly Ian McShane as Metcalfe Sonoya Mizuno as Shosh Studio / Distributor: Metronome Film Company, Parkes+MacDonald Image Nation / Amazon Prime Video ...

Friendship (2024)

Plot Summary: Suburban dad Craig Waterman (Tim Robinson) becomes obsessed with new neighbor Austin Carmichael (Paul Rudd). A quirky bromance spirals into a cringe-filled, emotional unraveling as Craig struggles with boundaries and rejection. Director & Writer: Andrew DeYoung Producer(s): Raphael Margules, J.D. Lifshitz, Johnny Holland, Nick Weidenfeld Music: Keegan DeWitt Cinematography: Andy Rydzewski Editing: Sophie Corra Starring: Tim Robinson as Craig Waterman Paul Rudd as Austin Carmichael Kate Mara as Tami Waterman Jack Dylan Grazer as Steven Waterman Josh Segarra, Billy Bryk, Jason Veasey and others   ***SPOILER ALERT*** A Wild Ride into Unhinged Genius Alright, instant noodles, shrimp flavor, done. Now for the actual love letter to Friendship, that magnificent, fucked-up black comedy that quite literally brought Tim R...

Echo Valley (2025)

Plot Summary: Grieving widow Kate Garrett (J. Moore) struggles to keep her Pennsylvania horse farm afloat after losing her wife. When her estranged, drug-addicted daughter Claire (S. Sweeney) returns bloodied and in distress, a gripping thriller unfolds as Kate fights to protect her child, confronting escalating danger, moral dilemmas, and the lengths a mother will go to save her kids. Director: Michael Pearce Screenplay: Brad Ingelsby Producers: Brad Ingelsby, Ridley Scott, Michael Pruss, Kevin J. Walsh Music: Jed Kurzel Cinematography: Benjamin Kračun Starring: Julianne Moore as Kate Garrett Sydney Sweeney as Claire Garrett Domhnall Gleeson as Jackie Kyle MacLachlan as Richard Garrett Fiona Shaw as Jessie Oliver Edmund Donovan as Ryan   ***SPOILER ALERT*** Cheese, Wine and Echo Valley Alright, so picture this. It’s a ...

Moana 2 (2024)

Plot Summary: Moana, now a master wayfinder, sets sail with her new crew to restore the lost island Motufetu and reconnect ocean tribes. Directors: David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux Miller Producers: Christina Chen, Yvett Merino (with Jennifer Lee credited on fandom) Screenplay: Written by Jared Bush & Dana Ledoux Miller; story by Bush, Miller & Bek Smith Starring (voice cast): Auliʻi Cravalho as Moana Dwayne Johnson as Maui Hualālai Chung as Moni Rose Matafeo as Loto David Fane as Kele Awhimai Fraser as Matangi Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda as Simea Alan Tudyk as Heihei Temuera Morrison as Chief Tui Nicole Scherzinger as Sina   ***SPOILER ALERT*** Back to the Ocean, But With Cautious Toes Saturday after lunch, full belly, and we hit play on Moana 2. If you’ve read my love letter to the first movie, you know it h...

Mountainhead (2025)

Plot Summary: Four ultra‑rich tech moguls retreat to a secluded mountain estate as a global AI‑triggered crisis unravels. Their poker weekend turns into a sickening display of arrogance, panic, and slapstick betrayal as they scramble to save face, fortune, and friends. Director & Writer: Jesse Armstrong Music: Nicholas Britell Cinematography: Marcel Zyskind Editor: Mark Davies, Bill Henry Starring: Steve Carell as Randall Garrett Jason Schwartzman as Hugo "Souper" Van Yalk Cory Michael Smith as Venis "Ven" Parish Ramy Youssef as Jeff Abredazi   ***SPOILER ALERT*** First Impressions: Tech Titans and Tedium Okay, another fresh pick! This time, an HBO movie with Steve Carell and Jason Schwartzman, and two other guys I honestly couldn’t name. After peeking at the trailer, I thought Mountainhead might be fun and interesting. The...