2012’s Escape tells the story of two men who meet in Thailand.

Paul Jordan (C. Thomas Howell) is a doctor who came to Thailand with his wife, Kim (Anora Lyn).  Paul and Kim are both working in a clinic, trying to bring healthcare to the poor and the downtrodden.  They specifically left America because of the death of their newborn.  Paul says that they need to make a clean break and start new lives for themselves.  Paul is an atheist, both because of the death of his child and all of the misery that he sees around him.  Kim is secretly religious.  Though she doesn’t discuss it with Paul, she brings a bible with her and she regularly asks the people back home to pray for them.

Malcolm Andrews (John Rhys-Davies) is a former tech boss who has retired and has been exploring the world with his wife (Puttaya Chaimongkolepetc).  Malcolm is extremely wealthy but also very humble, a kind man who always tries to treat people with decency.  Unlike Paul, he is very religious and has no problem with accepting the idea the God can exist even when the world itself is a complete mess.

When Paul and Malcolm first meet, Paul initially distrusts Malcolm but that soon changes due to the circumstances of their meeting.  They’ve both been kidnapped by outlaws and they’re being held in a bamboo cage in the middle of an island jungle.  Paul has been kidnapped because one of the outlaws has been wounded and is dying.  Paul is expected to keep the man alive, with the understanding being that if the man dies, Paul dies as well.  Malcolm has been kidnapped because the outlaws are hoping to get a huge ransom for him.  Despite their differing views of the world, Paul and Malcolm become friends because, when you’re stuck in  a bamboo cage with someone, you really don’t have much of a choice but to become friends.  In a situation like that, there’s only so long someone can go without making eye contact.

While Paul and Malcolm debate theology and wait for an opportunity to make their escape, their wives try to get the authorities to search for their husbands.  Unfortunately, it turns out that the authorities are almost as incompetent as the outlaws.

Lately, there have been a lot of faith-based films that have attempted to duplicate Hollywood gerne films.  Escape has a religious message but it’s also a thriller about two men trapped in the middle of the jungle.  It’s fairly well-done, though the action does occasionally drag.  (There’s only so many ways that you can film two men talking in a cage.)  The film makes good use of C. Thomas Howell’s bland niceness and the jungle scenery is both beautiful and ominous.  That said, John Rhys-Davies is the main attraction here and he gives a strong and compelling performance as Malcolm.  Regardless of whether you agree with his beliefs or not, you really do want to see him make it back to his wife.

Escape ends on a bit of an abrupt note but it’s still an effective thriller.