ALL THE LEAVES ARE GREEN // A FILM REVIEW OF "ESCAPE THE FIELD"
Six strangers wake up one by one in a field, slowly meeting and realizing none of them remember how they got there. They each have been given an object, but other than that, they have no connection about what they need to do. All they know is that they have to get out. As they do, they start to realize that they are in some sort of twisted game. There's traps, creepy scarecrows that might be leading the way and many more dangers around each corner. Who set this all up? And why? Will we find out by the end of the credits? I only have answers to one of those questions and it's not the one you want.
ESCAPE THE FIELD has a fun premise. Sort of an "Escape Room meets horror film" and the filmmakers certainly have ambition in mind. There's a lot of entertaining moments here but also a lot of really dumb ones. Throughout the film, each time you're starting to get sucked in, one thing happens that makes no sense and doesn't get answered. And then another thing. And another until finally we get to the finale that feels so rushed you'd almost swear that a good 20 minutes are simply missing from the film.
The first person we meet is Sam (Jordan Claire Robbins) and her object is a revolver. Tyler (Theo Rossi) is up next with matches. Then we meet Afghanistan vet Ryan (Shane West), who's Apocalypse Now moment at the end is one of the silliest things in the film. Finally there's Cameron (Tahirah Sharif) and Denise (Elena Juatco). Throughout the film, the actors are all game and the filmmakers seem to be having fun, but the nonsensical plot and many plot holes left unanswered make it a frustrating experience as a viewer.
GRADE: C+
WRITTEN BY Emerson Moore, Sean Wathen, Joshua Dobkin DIRECTED BY Emerson Moore STARRING Theo Rossi, Jordan Claire Robbins, Shane West, Tahirah Sharif, Elena Juatco, Julian Feder, Nikki Kero. OPENS IN SELECT THEATRES AND ON DEMAND MAY 6th. FOR MORE INFO: ESCAPE THE FIELD