No Exit

The 2022 suspense thriller No Exit is both a chilling and riveting film that keeps the audience on edge throughout its runtime. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Damien Power, No Exit presents a tale of survival amidst unspeakable odds, showcasing a brilliant ensemble of performances, particularly those of Havana Rose Liu, Danny Ramirez, and David Rysdahl.

Havana Rose Liu, in her career-defining role, plays Darby Thorne, an art student and a troubled young woman trying to get her life back on track. When she learns her mother falls into a life-threatening coma, the mending between them gets abruptly cut short. Left with no choice, Darby embarks on a harrowing cross-country journey in mid-winter to reach her hospitalized mother. She pushes through the hostile weather and the treacherous roads of a small Colorado town. Yet, the weather turns more horrific, leading her to seek refuge at an isolated visitor center tucked away in the mountains. Here, she finds herself trapped due to the blizzard, with a handful of unrelated strangers.

Other than Darby, the stranded passengers include a pair of genial oldsters played by Dale Dickey and Dennis Haysbert, a friendly yet weirdly over-chatty woman (Milena Govich), and a surly man portrayed convincingly by David Rysdahl. Presence of Ramirez's character, Sandi, a friendly Good Samaritan visiting his girlfriend, offers Darby a fleeting sense of security. Their budding friendship becomes important as the plot unfolds in the remote visitor center.

The movie takes a terrifying turn when Darby stumbles onto a deplorable secret about one of the fellow-occupants. Tucked away in the snow-covered vehicle outside the visitor center is a kidnapped child. What started as an unfortunate meet-up due to a blizzard soon turns into a nerve-wracking fight for the survival of not just Darby but the innocent child as well. The challenge intensifies as they struggle to know who amongst them is the perpetrator.

Havana Rose Liu’s display of her character's grit and resolution is worth noting as the plot unravels into Darby's struggle to outwit a kidnapper whose identity remains unknown for much of the movie. Not only is she combating her inner turmoil resulting from her mother's condition, but Darby also has to come to terms with a horrifying present reality and essentially become a reluctant but determined heroine.

The performances of the supporting cast, notably Danny Ramirez and David Rysdahl, add fuel to the fire, making the film more gripping with their layered performances. The complexity of their characters keep adding unexpected twists to the plot, making the narrative more perplexing and engaging for the viewers.

No Exit masterfully handles the complexities of trust as the movie expertly keeps the audience guessing about who among the stranded individuals is concealing the terrible secret. The film revels in its clever misdirections and commendable timing of revelations, forcing the viewers to question the characters' motives and authenticity, thereby making the film a nerve-jangling experience.

The atmospheric cinematography captures the harsh, remote wintery landscapes and the claustrophobic interiors of the visitor center in a way that intensifies the film’s tension. Cinematographer Simon Raby does a commendable job in creating a visual narrative that is as chilling and inhospitable as the storm itself. No Exit’s score by composer Jed Palmer further amplifies this feeling of dread, crafting a soundscape that aids in the relentless tension and creating a tone of paranoia and mistrust amongst the characters and the viewers.

No Exit borders on the intersection of thriller and horror genre. It exploits primal human fears and pushes its characters to their limits, presenting a test of human survival against seemingly insurmountable odds. It manages to engage the audience with its intelligent narrative, breakneck pacing, and commendable performances. Overall, No Exit challenges the norms of a cabin-in-the-woods thriller and takes it several notches higher, making it a must-watch for those who enjoy high-stakes suspense dramas.