The Way Out

In The Way Out, director Barry Jay crafts an intense psychological thriller that dives deep into the complexities of trauma and survival. The film follows a young man, reeling from the recent death of his abusive father. Struggling to find direction, he crosses paths with a charming yet dangerous stranger. This enigmatic figure becomes an unexpected mentor, imparting unconventional life lessons that span the spectrum from the intimate and personal to the violent and empowering. As the young man learns about life, sex, and how to fight back, he begins to reclaim his sense of self and confront the ghosts of his past. Barry Jay masterfully weaves a narrative that is as unsettling as it is captivating, making The Way Out a compelling exploration of resilience and transformation.

A thrilling LGBTQ+ film that delivers both excitement and tension, bolstered by strong performances from the cast. On the surface, it's a sexy and engaging thriller, but what truly sets it apart are the deeper themes interwoven into the narrative, exploring complex issues and emotional depths that resonate beyond the immediate plot. The script is solid, with sharp dialogue and well-developed characters, even though the "big twist" might be predictable for some viewers. Despite that minor flaw, the film remains a well-crafted and compelling thriller. It's an engaging and thought-provoking movie that I definitely recommend giving a chance!

Barry Jay expertly combines suspense with a meaningful exploration of trauma and addiction. The film's slow-build tension and deep character development set it apart from typical thrillers. Beauchamp delivers a powerful performance as the vulnerable yet determined Alex, while Manning brings a chilling intensity to Shane. The supporting cast, including Sherri Shepherd and Ashleigh Murray, adds depth and authenticity to the story.

The Way Out avoids cheap scares, focusing instead on psychological richness and emotional resonance. It delves into the complexities of dependency and recovery, making every moment significant and contributing to a profound sense of unease. For those seeking a thought-provoking and suspenseful film, The Way Out is a compelling reminder of how our pasts shape our present and is a must-watch in the psychological thriller genre.

"Alex" (Jonny Beauchamp) is a young man recovering from a ghastly relationship with his father. He's pretty broke, in a bit of an emotional cul-de-sac and working as a pizza boy when he encounters the enigmatic and charming "Shane" (Mike Manning) with whom he soon becomes fascinated, infatuated and every so slightly obsessed. His new mentor determines to push "Alex" to his limits, then beyond those limits - enabling him to more fully enjoy sex, but also to be able to defend himself from those who would gay-bash him. As you will expect, there is quite a bit more to "Shane", and as this revenge thriller pans out, we discover a little more of just how his eye-for-an-eye mentality delivers brutal and violent results. My problems with this were twofold. The dialogue is extremely uninspiring, pedestrian even. This story deals with real issues faced by many young gay men who have difficulties with their parents, their friends, with alcohol and their own self-esteem and self-worth. The writing here is just too light-weight and it doesn't arm either character - especially Beauchamp - with enough to really punch through. The second is the woefully underlit photography. It's as if it were all being shot using some candles, or a Davy lamp. That works at certain stages of the story, but after a while I felt the whole point of "Alex" not having to live in the shadows was being compromised by director Barry Jay's choice to film it as if we were all in a cave. It's a solid story that looks at a few salient (and criminal) point. This just doesn't deliver that story very well.

Kenny's Movie Review

Coming to Streaming 2/10/2023

"The Way Out"

This is from the Great people of "Terror Films"

A young man deals with the loss of his abusive father by taking advice from a charming, dangerous stranger who teaches him about life, sex, and fighting back.

This is a really good intense psychological thriller from director Barry Jay, it stars Jonny Beauchamp as a young man dealing with the sudden loss of his abusive father, he's in a dead end job as a pizza delivery driver when he finds out his dad died of a "massive heart attack" he's helped by his AA sponsor played by Sherri Shepherd and his "girlfriend" played by Ashleigh Murray. When he inherits his fathers house and massive unpaid bills he starts renting out rooms and here he meets a stranger played really creepy by Mike Manning who teaches him how to fight back.

This is where I'll leave you, the film takes you on a wild ride and a game of revenge, the acting and story is really interesting and terrific and I'd highly recommend you seeing this when it comes to streaming in February.

Thanks to Terror Films for the opportunity to share their film with me.