Karla (Sarah Alexandra Marks) is a nurse on vacation with her close friend, Tasmin (Ksenia Islamova), at a luxury hotel by a beautiful beach. They both have high hopes for a trip filled with fun, sunshine, and relaxation. While lounging on the beach, a handsome man named Jude (Louis James) approaches them, initiating conversation and inviting Karla and Tasmin to join him for drinks at a nearby bar. However, they politely declined the invitation and returned to their hotel, looking forward to enjoying some wine. But where there is a single knock on the door, everything changes, and both Karla and Tasmin are kidnapped and taken to a secret location, gagged and tied up. Upon arrival at a mysterious location in the desert, the pair is separated. Tasmin is imprisoned in a bedroom, while Karla is trapped in an underground prison, alongside many other women who have also been kidnapped.
Karla soon discovers that she and the others are destined to be trafficked. Trapped with no way to escape and heavily guarded by multiple men led by Andras (Sean Cronin), she is determined to use her knowledge as a nurse. The women team up, all looking for a way to break free and escape. Will Karla rescue herself and the other girls, including her close friend Tasmin?
Escape is a thriller and was written and directed by Howard J. Ford, who is also known for his other works, including The Ledge (2022), The Lockdown Hauntings (2021), The Dead (2010), and DarkGame (2024). The storyline is straightforward as the women try to escape, survive and outsmart ruthless traffickers. The film starts quickly, and the tension is heightened as Karla and the others find themselves on the run in the desert. Both the desert setting and the underground prison work wonderfully for this narrative. The filming style is impressive, and I particularly enjoyed the creative aerial shots during key moments when the characters were fleeing. Sarah Alexandra Marks delivers a standout performance as Karla, and Sean Cronin, portraying the primary villain Andras, also shines.
While the performances in the film are generally good, I must say the same can’t be said for the dialogue, which often comes across as cheesy, corny, or even unbelievable. Characters like Lucy (Sophie Rankin) can be more annoying than compelling, detracting from the audience’s engagement. Despite my concerns, I found the primary plot entertaining, mainly because of its simplicity. However, the film’s various subplots felt completely pointless. For instance, there’s a storyline involving concerned mothers who haven’t heard from their daughters, and the search by highly trained officers to locate the missing girls. These subplots only serve to diminish the overall enjoyment of the film.
Overall, Escape provides mindless entertainment with a straightforward premise, an intriguing concept, and intense moments of violence. The plot unfolds quickly, establishing high stakes and introducing various characters effectively. The standout elements of the film are its location settings and the strong performances by Sarah Alexandra Marks and Sean Cronin. However, many supporting performances are hindered by clichéd dialogue, and not all the actors deliver commendable performances. Additionally, a significant subplot detracts from the film’s overall impact. When the focus is on the main characters and the threat posed by murderous traffickers, the film shines.
Escape (2007) will be Available on DVD and digital on June 18th, thanks to Defiant Screen Entertainment!
Published: 16th June 2025
Written by: Peter Walkden
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