‘No Exit’ Movie Review: The Predictable Hulu Thriller Entertains Amidst a Snowstorm
No Exit places far too much emphasis on predictable reveals, although there’s still plenty of fun to have in Hulu‘s new thriller. Damien Power’s direction convincingly places the audience in the middle of a snow-covered setting that truly feels claustrophobic. No Exit is fun, occasionally brutal, and adequately filled with tension.
‘No Exit’ traps its characters during a snowstorm
Darby Thorne (Havana Rose Liu) is in drug rehab, but she views it all as a waste of time. One day, she gets an emergency phone call that her mother is in the hospital as a result of a brain aneurysm. Darby escapes the facility and begins making her way to the hospital, but her family doesn’t want her there.
A heavy snowstorm forces Darby to head to a mountain rest stop until the conditions clear up. She meets fellow travelers Ash (Danny Ramirez), Lars (David Rysdahl), Ed (Dennis Haysbert), and Sandi (Dale Dickey), who are in the same situation. However, Darby discovers a young girl (Mila Harris) who is tied up in the back of a van. She’s now trapped in close quarters with the kidnapper and must find out who it is before it’s too late.
Damien Power brings its game of ‘Bulls***’ to the bigger picture
No Exit begins with Darby trapped within the confines of a drug rehabilitation facility. She doesn’t have much contact with the outside world and often feels hopeless regarding the impact of rehab. However, Darby doesn’t realize that her claustrophobic, sober journey is only just beginning. Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari’s screenplay slowly unravels the journey that will result in her refusing to back down in the face of fear.
Lars introduces the card game called Bulls***. They each attempt to put on their best poker faces. However, the group begins to learn more about one another and gain knowledge of when one is lying. No Exit takes this card game and expands it into every corner of the film. Darby views every other character as a potential suspect, as her paranoia continues to build.
No Exit initially takes a slow approach to building its tension. Darby discovers the young girl bound in the back of a van, but she has no way to immediately help her. As a result, she will have to fight in a life-or-death brawl that doesn’t give her much room for error. However, the screenplay doesn’t truly kick into high gear until its third act.
‘No Exit’ is entertaining and thrilling, albeit predictable
Power brought an impressive ensemble for this thriller. Liu delivers a convincing performance, truly getting the audience to root for her. Darby is put through a lot and Liu dives into this role with admirable determination. However, there isn’t a whole lot of character development for those aside from Darby. Nevertheless, Haysbert is exceptional casting. Who doesn’t want to hear the Allstate spokesman joke about some seriously dark subject matter?
No Exit brings the audience into a snow-covered setting. Exterior shots have appropriately low visibility, further establishing the feeling that there’s no way out. This rest stop is all there is. Power delivers on a brutal third act that will have some viewers squirming. However, you have to remain patient through a series of predictable reveals that audiences will see coming from miles away.
Barrer and Ferrari’s screenplay shows its cards far too soon. It pulls initial tension and the potential of a big payoff away from the film. Nevertheless, Power finds tension in other big moments that are rather savage. No Exit serves ice-cold thrills that make for accessible, albeit predictable entertainment.
No Exit is now streaming exclusively on Hulu.
How to get help: In the U.S., contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration helpline at 1-800-662-4357.
