“No Way Up” feels like a fine survival drama trapped in a B-movie shark thriller.
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“No Way Up” Plot Summary
“No Way Up” feels like a fine drama trapped in a B-movie thriller. The survival movie delivers on its premise and provides more depth to its characters than expected, but some viewers may be unsure about what tone “No Way Up” is going for. “No Way Up” is filled with surprises, but some of those surprises come at the cost of confusing its audience.
“No Way Up” starts with a chilling nightmare of floating dead bodies in the water. Brandon (Colm Meaney) then wakes up in a cold sweat to realize he’s still at home in his mobile trailer. He makes a cup of coffee, waters his plants, grabs his keys, where we see a few decorated medals, and away he goes. This quick introduction shows us what we need to know about Brandon while providing some unexpected insight into his life. “No Way Up” could have simply introduced him as Ava’s capable bodyguard, but the quick peek into his personal life presents a new shade to him. “No Way Up” proceeds to give us small yet significant details about all the characters on the flight to vacation.
We have Ava (Sophie McIntosh), a young woman unsure of what to do with her future and often scared to act alone. Ava’s boyfriend Jed (Jeremias Amoore) and Jed’s wise-crackin’ friend Kyle (Will Attenborough) are also joining her on this trip. Also on the plane are an elderly couple taking their granddaughter on vacation and a flight attendant tasked with accommodating them despite Kyle’s snarky remarks about him. While others are on the plane, their fate ends all too soon when the plane rips open, passengers are sucked out, squashed to death, and the remaining survivors are left for dead in the water.
Ava, Brandon, and company are now stuck in an air pocket within the damaged plane at the bottom of the ocean. To make matters worse, hungry sharks are surrounding their wreckage. Now Ava and the unlikely group of survivors must find a way to escape before their oxygen supply runs out or they get eaten by sharks. The trek to escape is just as perilous as the choice to stay.
Written by Andy Mayson and directed by Claudio Fäh, “No Way Up” is honestly better than you probably think. Despite some clunky dialogue, the special effects are decent, characters have full arcs, each actor finds the emotional core of their character, and the deaths are jolting. But whether you see this as a survival film or a shark movie, it doesn’t seem to rise to the occasion of either, settling somewhere in between. Perhaps due to a modest budget or cut scenes, “No Way Up” is harmless to anyone who stumbles on the movie but needs more bite to be memorable.
Content Information
“No Way Up” is rated R due to profanity, violence, and frightening images.
“No Way Up” General Information
| Director | Claudio Fäh |
| Screenplay By | Andy Mayson |
| Date Released | February 16, 2023 |
| How To Watch | In Theaters |
| Genre(s) | Thriller |
| Film Length | 1 Hour, 30 Minutes |
| Content Rating | Rated R |
| Noted Characters and Cast | |
| Brandon | Colm Meaney |
| Ava | Sophie McIntosh |
| Jed | Jeremias Amoore |
| Rosa | Grace Nettle |
| Mardy “Nana” | Phyllis Logan |
| Kyle | Will Attenborough |
| Danilo | Manuel Pacific |
Character Descriptions
Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, and character descriptions may contain what can be considered spoilers.
Brandon (Colm Meaney)
Brandon is Ava’s security guard and accompanies her on many trips. He’s able to immediately observe the danger in any room, and while he’s hired by Ava’s dad, he fears he might be preventing Ava’s growth as a person.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.”
Ava (Sophie McIntosh)
Ava is at a crossroads in her life. As a young woman initially prepared for law school, her father offers her a job in the family business. Ava is stuck between the future she wants and a future that can just be handed to her.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Shortland Street.”
Jed (Jeremias Amoore)
Jed is Ava’s supportive boyfriend. He’s frustrated that her family’s bodyguard is on the trip, and he believes Ava is more capable than she believes in herself.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Zero Chill.”
Rosa (Grace Nettle)
Rosa is a little girl whose parents don’t seem to be in the picture. Rosa has to grow up quickly once their plane crashes in the ocean.
Danilo (Manuel Pacific)
Danilo is a flight attendant on the plane. He’s annoyed by Kyle’s snarky remarks, but they have no choice but to work together when their plane crashes.
“No Way Up” Review
Our Rating: Mixed (Divisive)
Let us know your thoughts in the comments:
- What did you think of “No Way Up”? What did they do well, and what would you have done differently?
Highlights
“No Way Up” Cares About Its Characters
“No Way Up” understands how to invest viewers in characters. Whether it’s the old school film rule of “show, don’t tell,” as we see in Brandon’s life, or showing a conversation between two flight attendants, “No Way Up” establishes that these characters have lives outside the plane with hope of what to do afterwards. The script makes sure that no character is flat, and each has a chance to change and grow from their experience.
On The Fence
A Tonal Hodgepodge of Ideas
“No Way Up” can sometimes feel like a bunch of ideas smushed together rather than a cohesive single story. Certain story beats leave unanswered questions (why does Ava’s family even need a bodyguard?) or feel like a mix of two movie scripts (a plane crash and a shark attack). These tones leave fans of B-movie shark attacks or survival thrillers wanting something more. “No Way Up” is ambitious in trying to showcase all of the above, but the sometimes goofy and sometimes sincere tone may make you scratch your head.
Good If You Like
- Survival movies, shark attack movies, or movies where characters have to overcome impossible odds.
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