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The Escapist

The Escapist

Action · Thriller · 2008

Frank Perry is an institutionalized convict twelve years into a life sentence without parole. When his estranged daughter falls ill, he is determined to make peace with her before it's too late. He develops an ingenious escape plan, and recruits a dysfunctional band of escapists - misfits with a mutual dislike for one other but united by their desire to escape their hell hole of an existence.

Movie details

The Escapist

“5 Men. 4 Walls. 1 Plan.”

2008 Action · Thriller 1h 42m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.2 / 10

Community rating

Frank Perry is an institutionalized convict twelve years into a life sentence without parole. When his estranged daughter falls ill, he is determined to make peace with her before it's too late. He develops an ingenious escape plan, and recruits a dysfunctional band of escapists - misfits with a mutual dislike for one other but united by their desire to escape their hell hole of an existence.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Escapist?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Rupert Wyatt

Written by

Daniel Hardy · Rupert Wyatt

Brian Cox

Brian Cox

Frank Perry

Damian Lewis

Damian Lewis

Rizza

Joseph Fiennes

Joseph Fiennes

Lenny Drake

Seu Jorge

Seu Jorge

Viv Batista

Liam Cunningham

Liam Cunningham

Brodie

Dominic Cooper

Dominic Cooper

Lacey

Stephen Farrelly

Stephen Farrelly

Two Ton

Court is in session

Put The Escapist on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“Momentum is a formal choice.”

The velocity sharpens instinct and tension, making every beat land before self-importance can settle in.

The prosecution The Auteur Devotee

“Speed as an alibi.”

The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.