Escape Plan

Ray Breslin (Sylvester Stallone) is not only in prison, but finds himself in the high security wing of the Bendwater Federal Penitentiary. No matter, as he soon escapes right from under the watchful eyes and ears of security cameras, guards and manned tower lookouts. But appearances can be deceiving and for Ray this is all in a days’ work, as he is actually a high priced security expert hired to test our nations prisons by breaking out of them.

Breslin’s security firm comes to the attention of the CIA who wish to test their latest “escape proof” prison, and who else to test it than the man who wrote the book. Unfortunately, things go from bad to worse when Ray is incarcerated, the warden who was supposed to know this is only a test doesn’t exist, and he finds himself committed for the rest of his life. Fortunately, Breslin isn’t the only one who doesn’t belong, and he soon teams up with a fellow inmate named Rottmayer (Arnold Schwarzenegger), and the two begin to plan an impossible escape.

Objectionable Content

Violence: Extreme. People are stabbed, shot, beaten near to death, thrown out of a plane, tortured by intense heat and water-boarded. Blood from injuries are commonplace and profuse, and Doctor Kyrie (Sam Neill in a crucial role) is shown sewing up Breslin’s wound.

Language: Extreme. The “F” word is used about 54x’s, the “S” word (8), SOB and it’s variant (2), A__ (5), it’s even more offensive variant A___h___ (4), a euphemism for male genitals (1), the gutter version of “prostitute” (1), and the Lord’s name is taken in vain (3). In lieu of a curse, the middle finger is employed twice.

Sex/Nudity: Moderate. A drawing of a butt is shown, and a sex act is simulated as an insult. Breslin’s business partner Abigail (Amy Ryan) implies at the beginning of the film that Ray will be spending the night at her place, but nothing is further said nor is any sex or nudity shown.

On the plus side, during a torture scene involving Rottmayer, he prays aloud in German, understood via sub titles, unfortunately this is obscenely offset by Breslin using the Bible as a mere prop during one of his escapes, made all the more evident when he casually throws it down on the floor and starts ripping out pages to use to gain his freedom. Sadly, the only people seen turning to God in this movie are Muslim inmates performing their daily prayers, when in reality many in prison do take their tragic situation to find our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.

Lessons

Ray tries to enlist the prison doctor’s help by reminding him of the Hippocratic oath (“… I will keep them [my patients] from harm and injustice”), and Dr. Kyrie is seen visibly wrestling with his conscience as compared to warden Hobbes (James Caviezel) who inflicts pain on the inmates with seemingly no qualms about it. How great is our God, who, in his infinite wisdom, has given all mankind a conscience and will recognize those that choose to heed it.

“Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves… since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.” (Romans 2:14-15)

After they try and break Breslin’s will by constantly beating him, he confesses to Rottmayer why he escapes from prisons for a living. Breslin was once a lawyer, and a man he prosecuted broke out and took his revenge on his family making him realize that, “… taking a man’s life is nothing, taking his heart that’s everything, isn’t it?.” Of course, Ray is right and the devil, who does have power here on Earth, has always sought to lure men’s hearts away from God and towards him, and he will do anything, be it through enticements or tragedies, to accomplish this. The Word of God speaks volumes on the dangers of this spiritual warfare.

“Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

“This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.” (1 John 3:10)

“Those who oppose him [the Lord’s servant] he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:26)

“Escape Plan” is a formulaic and paced film that suffers several lulls, as it spends most of its time in the planning and staging phase before the action begins, making it more like other escape films rather than the action movies we’ve come to associate with either Stallone or Schwarzenegger. An interesting film that fans of both stars will enjoy, more so than their recent efforts (“Bullet to the Head,” “The Last Stand”), but a film whose offensive content I cannot recommend to fellow Christians or for that matter any discerning filmgoer looking for an edifying afternoon.

Violence: Extreme / Profanity: Extreme / Sex/Nudity: Moderate

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