Susan Granger’s review of “No Exit” (20th Century-Studios/Hulu)
Reflecting our current sense of paranoia and claustrophobia, this survival thriller revolves around a cynical, twentysomething addict, Darby Thorne (Havana Rose Liu), who escapes from her umpteenth time in a court-mandated rehabilitation center when she learns that her mother has suffered a brain aneurysm in Salt Lake City.
Although her family doesn’t want her around, Darby is desperate to get to the hospital. So she steals a staff member’s car, only to be thwarted by a horrific blizzard that closes not only the Utah Interstate but all the local mountain roads.
Warned of the danger by a vigilant highway patrolman, Darby reluctantly stops at an isolated Visitors Center, where she encounters others who are similarly stranded.
While making repeated trips to the parking lot, hoping for a cell-phone signal, Darby hears the muffled screams of a terrified little girl (Mila Harris) who is tied up in a locked van. Obviously, the kidnapper must be one of the four other trapped travelers.
Could it be that older couple: Marine veteran Ed (Dennis Haysbert) and former nurse Sandi (Dale Dickey), who are headed for a weekend gambling getaway in Reno? What about friendly Ash (Danny Ramirez) or that sullen, suspiciously squirrely loner, Ash (David Rysdahl)?
When guilt is revealed somewhat early-on, it then becomes a bloody cat-and-mouse chase through the snow-clad setting.
Tautly adapted by Andrew Barrer & Gabriel Ferrari from Taylor Adams 2017 novel, it’s predictably directed by Damien Powers – complete with gruesome coincidences and grisly contrivances that are consistent with its low-budget tone.
On the Granger Gauge of 1 to 10, “No Exit” is a fear-inducing 4, streaming on Hulu.
