In the year 2022, John Robbins (Ray Liotta) has been sentenced to a prison island for assassinating his commanding officer. Run by The Warden (Michael Lerner), this prison is filled with society’s most violent and feared criminals and split between the The Outsiders, who are ruled by Marek (Stuart Wilson) and The Insiders, commanded Father (Lance Henriksen) and his followers Hankins (Ernie Hudson) and Casey (Kevin Dillon).
Robbins doesn’t care to join anyone. He just wants to escape. Yet by stealing a weapon from The Outsiders, he’s unleashed a civil war that could destroy everyone.
Based on the 1987 novel The Penal Colony by Richard Herley, this movie was directed by Martin Campbell (GoldenEye, The Legend of Zorro) and really feels way too close to reality. Beyond being set in 2022, prisons are run by corporations and prisoners are seen as assets. Hmm.
There are plenty of stars in this and tons of action. Somehow, some way, I’ve never seen this before and was pretty entertained by it.
The Unearthed Classics DVD of No Escape has the original theatrical trailer, TV spots and an alternate beginning. You can get it from MVD.
