I wasn't really sure what to anticipate from the Norwegian film "Escape." The marketing artwork, packaging and description make it seem like this might be a cheesy kid's adventure film. So I strapped in and hoped for the best. And as is often the case with relatively low expectations, I was pleasantly surprised. There isn't a whole lot of plot in this spare 80 minute film, but the action sequences were well executed and the movie held my interest throughout. The title really explains the entire film premise. It's about an escape with not much back story or explanation either before or after the event. By keeping things simple and straightforward, however, the movie succeeds in telling a concise little story. It may not be a great movie, but it is entertaining. The DVD/Blu-ray has the option of an English dubbed soundtrack, but I watched the film with subtitles. I can't, therefore, comment on the quality of the dub which is oftentimes distracting and annoying to my personal taste.The movie is set ten years after the Black Death has decimated the population. A lone family traveling the desolate countryside is attacked by a gang of outlaws. After the bloody encounter, the teenaged daughter is taken back to the savage's camp and kept as a prisoner. She forms a tentative bond with another young girl, but her fate seems all but sealed unless she can take matters into her own hands. What must she do? She must escape, you guessed it. Never mind where she's going, she has to assert independence, courage, and ingenuity if she plans to survive this ordeal. Most of the movie has our hero on the run, and her pursuers following closely. That's about it!
The look of "Escape" is quite impressive. The scenery is spectacular and the action sequences are well done. For a low-budget endeavor, the filmmaking is quite accomplished. Young actress Isabel Christine Andreasen is believable and appealing, but it is Ingrid Bolsø Berdal who gets the film's showiest role as villainous Dagmar. I would love to have seen a movie about her character, she seems like a fascinating subject! In the end, you're not particularly connected to the fate of any of the characters but that didn't bother me. Because the movie had such a limited scope and modest ambitions, it worked just fine. I'm not particularly raving, but I enjoyed myself. Overall, about 3 1/2 stars. I'll round up for Berdal's work as Dagmar. KGHarris, 4/13.
Cheers!It's not the best cinematography ever, it is a foreign language film with English subtitles. A very good story, actors were good (especially the two young lasses).
I'm surprised to find this gem hidden back on page one hundred something. It should be up front, at least ahead of "I spit on your grave" & "Godzilla vs Megagodzilla"
Hunger Games, Hanna type movie, action, drama. Dagmar is Hawtt! In a Johnny Winter sort of way.
Read Best Reviews of Escape (2012) Here
This is one great and awesome movie ... you WILL have to remind yourself to breath for your stomach muscles are tight for the whole part of the movie (and it hurts after a while). Awesome and INTENSE story plus superb acting. Awesome and superb video and audio quality throughout the whole movie. I just had my Pioneer Kuro elite plasma calibrated 2 weeks ago and this Bluray simply showed off its prowess.I chose the Norwegian/Swedish version with English subtitles version since it was in high definition audio (DTS-HD MA). The English voice over version is stereo which I didn't like. Subtitles didn't bother me one bit and probably heightened the movie experience.
By all means ... this movie is extremely and highly recommended. You will NOT regret it one-bit! Excellent example of good triumphing over evil in the end ... but at a great cost indeed!!!
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