Escape – Movie Review

When the question raised is ‘Why does God allow bad things happen to good people’, the movie, Escape not only attempts to answer it, but draws you in while re-shaping your heart.

Set in a destitute Thailand, one American couple decides that going to take their medicine practice to a foreign land to help others is the perfect way to escape their pain from losing a child.

C. Thomas Howell as Paul in Escape; Photo Courtesy of Pure Flix Entertainment.

What Paul (played by C. Thomas Howell) and Kim (played by Anora Lyn) find is quite the opposite from the paradise they imagined.

The people around them need medicine and technology that is not readily available. Paul, the main protagonist, is a man who questions the plans of God, and if God should even be trusted.

He believes that God is someone who only allows horrible things to happen. It is this view that he holds on to, even when he is thrown into troubling times. He is met with some men who are involved in trafficking women.

C. Thomas Howell as Paul is captured in Thailand, his wife plans to find him; Photo Courtesy of Pure Flix Entertainment.

These men kidnap the American doctor as an attempt to rescue their captain. They hold him on a small island where it is just them, their house, a young girl, and two human sized cages.

Though you do not see any of the brutalities of trafficking portrayed in this film, there is one woman who is held captive and works as a servant for the men living on a hidden island.

While on this island Paul tries to convince the captors that he will do everything he can. This is where he meets with Malcom Andrews ( played by John Rhys-Davies). Malcom has also been taken prisoner yet has remained faithful to God.

Through an interesting turn of events, Malcom is able to discuss openly to Paul about Gods incredible grace through everything. Escape will open your eyes to a world that is not so far from us. It will hold you captive until the credits roll.

Kim played by Anora Lyn hopes to find her husband Paul after he is taken in Thailand; Photo Courtesy of Pure Flix Entertainment.

Biblical Worldview

Because this is a Christian film, it has nothing that a child cannot see.

There is some action and the traffickers do have guns. There are shots and blood wounds as we are following two American doctors in Thailand.

There is no sexuality in this movie. Though trafficking is brought up, it is never depicted more than a mention as to whom the men are.

C. Thomas Howell as Paul in Escape with Anora Lyn as Kim; Photo Courtesy of Pure Flix Entertainment.

Biblical Discussion

There are various themes that run through this film, but the most apparent would be ‘Why does God let bad things happen to good people’. Paul struggles with this for the majority of the film.

He wants to know why his child was taken from him when he was a good father, and husband.

(John 16:33) says “You will have suffering in this world”

Because the world is broken and sin has come in, there are bad things around.

(Matthew 5:45) tells us that “..He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous.”

Bad things happen to all people.

But we can put our hope in the knowledge that “God works for the good of those who love him and who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28)

1. Have you ever thought that God was simply out to get you?

2. Do you think that even if you are the best person that you can possibly be, that it will not be enough for God?

3. How do you know when you are doing something with the right intentions?

Click here to watch the official movie trailer for Escape