The Way Out (2022)
5KThe Way Out (2022). 1h 34m
“u0026quot;Alexu0026quot; (Jonny Beauchamp) is a young man recovering from a ghastly relationship with his father. Heu0026#39;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 u0026quot;Shaneu0026quot; (Mike Manning) with whom he soon becomes fascinated, infatuated and every so slightly obsessed. His new mentor determines to push u0026quot;Alexu0026quot; 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 u0026quot;Shaneu0026quot;, 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 doesnu0026#39;t arm either character – especially Beauchamp – with enough to really punch through. The second is the woefully underlit photography. Itu0026#39;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 u0026quot;Alexu0026quot; not having to live in the shadows was being compromised by director Barry Jayu0026#39;s choice to film it as if we were all in a cave. Itu0026#39;s a solid story that looks at a few salient (and criminal) point. This just doesnu0026#39;t deliver that story very well.”
