No Exit

I went into this film with absolutely no idea of what to expect. Besides one recognizable name, the cast was unknown to me, and the creative team was unfamiliar as well. However, the trailer intrigued me enough to give it a chance. And I’m really glad I did! It’s like a smaller sibling of the Coen Brothers’ films; some moments felt like they could have been penned by those two masters, with a hefty dose of dark humor. The film picked up significant momentum when the main character found herself in a snowstorm at a remote cabin with strangers, and then discovered a car with a kidnapped girl in the parking lot. As a viewer, I experienced a few perfect twists (one of which nearly knocked me off my seat). There’s also a bit of blood. What keeps me from giving it a higher rating is the lack of a stronger drive and some sequences where it was evident that the filmmakers weren't that experienced. Nevertheless, I’m satisfied. It’s a solid thriller. 7/10 (12.03.2022)

The villain is resolved very early, with an hour to go and you just wonder what else they're going to fill that small space with? What follows are random situations that make absolutely no sense, and then the climax comes. Another twist that sends the whole thing into a tailspin. It's popular these days to say that even AI could have written it better. But I'm afraid even AI has its integrity and wouldn't let this kind of stupid stuff out. Otherwise, I have to tip my hat to the filmmakers - the entire film takes place in a snowstorm in some truck stop, and you almost don't even realize that 99% of the film was shot in a studio (while outside the temperature was 30 degrees in the shade), with artificial snow, a house built just for the purpose of filming, and artificial trees all around. That's where the WETA guys are really unbeatable. The creation of a false reality is the only interesting thing about the film, one of those cases where the circumstances of the filming trump the film itself. (08.01.2024)

It's a pleasant 90 minutes, and despite the simple idea, I was definitely not bored - the characters are fine, there's plenty of tension, the running time is short and there are some unpleasant scenes. A decent average that won't blow the world away, but at the same time is more engaging than one would expect judging by the reviews. (04.03.2022)

Beginning of the section discussing the knotting and unraveling of the plot: When Kevin makes a run for it from rehab, he takes tools from the maintenance room. He takes them for future use. Where Kevin is, Marv must be too. Where there’s Marv, Harry must be around, and maybe someone else as well. The driver of De Niro's gang from Heat promises a ruthless showdown, but that doesn't happen. The driver of the first police car gets hit, as is usually the cliché. It’s snowing in both senses of the word. Perhaps Christmastime is approaching, and Kev can't be without his loved ones. End of the section discussing the knotting and unraveling of the plot and also the illusion that Damien Power could create another genre attraction after Killing Ground. (07.04.2022)

An average 90's-style thriller. During a winter storm, the main character is forced to stop at an isolated rest area with four other strangers. She encounters a kidnapped child in the parking lot and the problems start. I quite like thrillers with the theme of one place, a group of strangers, someone hiding something, but unfortunately they reveal that too soon here and the film lacks a proper twist or shocking revelation, as it did in the iconic Identity. Acting-wise I wasn't too impressed with, the film is visually, there is minimal violence (it needed more characters and definitely more savagery), but the nail-biter was more or less pleasing, you don't see that every day. It's relatively OK for one viewing on a dull evening, but in no genre level is the film satisfying enough to stand out from its counterparts. Story 3/5, Action 2/5, Humor 0/5, Violence 3/5, Fun 3/5 Music 2/5, Visuals 3/5, Atmosphere 3/5, Suspense 3/5, Emotion 2/5, Actors 3/5. 5.5/10. (28.02.2022)