Every scene is tightly bound to the next by concealed visual nods and restrained dialogue, which, coupled with the film’s naturalism, makes for raw, satisfying suspense.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Sep 19, 2023

A satisfying nail-biter with a tricksy, time-jumping, twist-heavy plot, a refreshingly spare approach to dialogue and a fine all-male ensemble cast...

| Nov 18, 2022

The Escapist is not an easy movie to watch.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Oct 9, 2019

Unfortunately, the depiction of prison life is predictable and the inmates are extremely dull stereotypes.

| Nov 1, 2018

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 17, 2011

Prison drama breaks all the rules - and wins.

| Original Score: 4.5/5 | Jan 3, 2011

By keeping the focus on the humanity, Rupert Wyatt makes a strong debut as a writer/director here, and his film's got a great sense of low-budget style.

Full Review | Aug 1, 2009

The two narrative tracks only really come together at the end, and meanwhile we have to work a bit too hard to keep track of it all.

| Jul 17, 2009

A fractured, stylish and tense affair built around a band of great performances.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jul 16, 2009

This is a rather curious film, admirable in some ways but also strangely frustrating.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Jul 16, 2009

A combination of a superb score and amazing performances make this a genre defying prison break film.

| Jul 14, 2009

The filmmakers succumb to the temptation of trying to have their escape movie cake and eat the psychological drama, too

| Jul 10, 2009

Brilliant or obscure? Engaging or pretentious? Intense performances, artistic cinematography, ambitious editing and eclectic music are the filmic elements, but obtuse storytelling with almost incomprehensible dialogue completes the picture

| Jul 10, 2009

I hate criticising someone for ambition but The Escapist is a victory of ambition over dramatic achievement.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Jul 8, 2009

An old-fashioned prison breakout yarn and a tight little package of sharp acting, cloying atmosphere and narrative misdirection.

| Original Score: B | May 8, 2009

It's swifter, grittier, and louder than the typical escape movie, but it still falls firmly within the tradition of underground breakouts. Its contrapuntal timelines are twisted into a surprisingly elegant first feature.

| Original Score: 70/100 | Apr 10, 2009

The movie was written specifically for Brian Cox, and it's a great fit.

Full Review | Apr 6, 2009

This is down and dirty and raw.

| Apr 6, 2009

How much you enjoy this prison drama will depend on your reaction to its fractured, flashback-laced structure. Oh, for the simple, straightforward days of The Big House!

| Apr 6, 2009

There's an intriguing twist to this puzzling escape-from-prison drama, as Brian Cox's convincing performance propels the flasbback/flashforward suspense.

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Apr 5, 2009