No Exit (2022)

No Exit is the kind of lean, mean thriller that grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go, turning a snowbound rest stop into a pressure cooker of suspicion and nerve. Damien Power keeps the tension ratcheting with clean, propulsive direction, and Havana Rose Liu is terrific as Darby—raw, smart, and believably desperate in a way that makes every choice feel like it costs something. The vibe is icy and claustrophobic, with a mystery you can chew on and a pace that refuses to idle, making it perfect “one more minute” viewing. It is also decidedly R-rated, with bursts of violence and some grim subject matter, so it won’t be for everyone—but if you want a brisk, nasty, satisfying survival puzzle, this one delivers.

No Exit is clearly aiming for a tight, snowbound “one location” thriller where paranoia builds and every stranger is a suspect, and it does deliver a brisk setup and a few genuinely tense moments. The problem is the script leans hard on familiar twists and thin character writing, so you may find yourself ahead of the movie rather than gripped by it, especially once the mystery gives way to more straightforward violence. The third act ramps up the brutality in a way that can feel messy and more shocking than smart, which doesn’t help if you’re looking for a grounded, emotionally weighty survival story. If you’re fine with a pulpy, high-stress thriller and can overlook clichés, it’s a serviceable watch; if you want sharp plotting and characters you actually care about, this one may waste your time.