Escape From Tomorrow

Keeping in line with the other two Disney threads on this board, has anyone seen this film? The initial concept sounds promising and the way it was so stealthily shot at both Disney World and Disneyland is really interesting, but the reviews I've read seem to be mixed-to-negative.

Surprisingly, there hasn't been a peep from Disney about the film which is probably a smart strategy, since they probably don't want to give the film and its director any free publicty.

Here's the review from The New York Times:



In ‘Escape From Tomorrow,’ a Disney Park Feels Out of Kilter

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Updated On: 10/14/13 at 02:40 PM

Oh Sorry! Didn't see those other threads and I didn't even think to do a search. I think I have a very bad case of the Mondays!

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I rented it from Amazon last night but I haven't watched it yet. I heard Disney isn't suing because they figure that's just giving the movie free publicity.

Sundance hype (should have been a warning sign) had it as sort of a mix of David Lynch, midnight movies, elements of The Shining, and lo-fi DIY surrealism. I was sort of expecting another Shane Carruth type of genre voice found at Sundance with Randy Moore. Instead the movie just felt like juvenile, broad, dumb, and, despite the setting, I felt no real sense of atmosphere. Also the central character's arc that includes following a bunch of teenage girls through the park just feels icky. Yes, we are watching a breakdown but it is as visceral or emotionally felt as one hopes. I can dig stuff that is unpolished but there is nothing really charming or kickass about the movie.

Phyllis, I'm going to suggest that Disney quietly signed a deal to let this actually be released. The initial critical reaction was "wait until Disney shuts this down before Sundance is over." Disney didn't go for the Streisand effect. But now, references to Disney rather than "the Happiest Place on Earth" or "a Magical Kingdom" are all over the promotional material. The film just screened in Disneyland. They're holding a contest to give away a $500 gift card to the Disney Store (which, admittedly, is not run by Disney at this point). This is a far cry from earlier in the year when the director and producers were afraid to directly reference the parks at all. They never named them; the media did.

I saw it last night and loved it. It has stayed with me much longer than "Gravity," which spent a lot more money to create its "trapped someplace lovely but hostile" environment.

I have a crush on the dad, and the ambulatory dad in the rest room. I think it's closer to a John Warers movie than anything else, and everyday objects seemed a bit sinister to me for a half hour after the film.

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Updated On: 10/16/13 at 08:33 AM

I loved it. It's one of my favorite movies of the year.

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