Directed by: Randy Moore
Starring: Roy Abramsohn, Elena Schuber, Katelynn Rodriguez, Annet Mahendru, Danielle Safady and Alison Lees-Taylor
Distributed by: Producers Distribution Agency
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 90 minutes
Our Score: 2 out of 5 stars
Earlier this year a very unique film premiered at 2013 Sundance Film Festival called “Escape from Tomorrow”. The film made headlines immediately since it was filmed in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Epcot as well as Disneyland completely under the radar without anyone knowing. Everyone believed that Disney would immediately bury the film and let their lawyers loose on the people behind it. Surprising, the film did not disappear into oblivion instead Disney took an similar approach like SeaWorld did with the documentary “Blackfish”, they have just ignored it. Well after watching “Escape from Tomorrow” finally, I wish I would have ignored it as well.
Living in Orlando, FL, I was very curious about “Escape from Tomorrow” especially since I visit Walt Disney World on a weekly basis. I found it fascinating that these people have pulled off filming an entire film without anyone from Disney catching on. The premise for the film does not represent your typical Disney theme either. It follows a middle-aged husband and father that learns that he has lost his job while on vacation in Walt Disney World. While trying to enjoy their last day on vacation, he sets out to the park with his nagging wife (who I wanted to strangle) and snotty kids. He starts to experience very strange visions and encounters, while heading down a path of madness.
The aspect of the film that I did enjoy was that fact that it was shot in black and white, I felt that it added a certain eerie feel. The acting is not very impressive and I wish Roy Abramsohn would have appeared shirtless much less than he did. This had a cool idea and could have had potential but it falls short of delivering anything entertaining. The story has too many holes and doesn’t deliver. I am also not sure if the film was cut heavily since it first premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival because I have seen a 104 minute running time online but the version I saw was only 90 minutes. But honestly, though I do not think I would have been able to watch another 14 minutes added onto this film.
So nearly a year since its debut at Sundance, “Escape from Tomorrow” is now playing in select theaters across the country including the IFC Center in New York. Also like a lot of indie films recently, this is also available to watch VOD via iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, Vudu and many other formats. I will leave it to you to decided whether or not to watch this. Even though I didn’t enjoy the film, I would still strangely recommend it since it does have that certain curiosity about it. But when I think about it further, I just think about flat story and the many missed opportunities.