Don't. Get. Out!

Movie not really worth watching. Wotan Wilke Möhring is a great actor and performa well as expected. All other actors average or below, Aleksandar Jovanovic very poor. I recommend to watch the original movie.

This movie had me nailed to my seat, or rather: seats. I had to make two attempts at watching it. I am a father of two myself, and the first time round I had to turn off the tv when things got to tough for the kids. But the seed was sown and I found myself wondering what the heck was going on in this story, and I needed to find out. So I watched the rest online two days later. I don't regret it. I felt the pain of the father, wondered about the villain and his next moves, got angry at the police making bad mistakes, and rooted for the heros. And at the end I realized that this is what good movies do.

P.S.: Emily Kusche did a fantastic job. I loved her even better than Wilke Möhring. In every second, the emotional state she displayed reflected precisely the situation she was in.

I began to watch this on IRIS randomly, not even knowing what genre it belonged. The opening suggested it could even be some romantic comedy. But as scenes progressed, I said ok, that's a variation of Speed and The Phone Booth alright.

The film progressed in a watchable manner, lacking in humor maybe deliberately, but quite good with details and twists, unexpected moments etc.

Safe to say this has all the works a Hollywood movie comes naturally with. The overall IMDb score looks fair in that sense.

However, I must add that, close to the ending there is one twist that takes place that really was clever and moving. The daughter's love and attachment to the father is key on that one, and I'd say it is could have elevated the script one grade if only the finale didn't lag so terribly.

There are quite a few things here that may feel ... well wrong to say the least. But that doesn't mean you can't have fun with this genre entry from Germany. It is very americanised ... apart from our main hero breaking down and crying! That would never happen in a Hollywood movie of course. But the other parts can be considered taken from US movies of similar nature.

And I don't mean that in a bad way. The movie overall keeps up its own inner logic. So if you roll with that and suspend your disbelief you'll be entertained and on the edge of your seat until the end (which slacks a bit or lets off steam, but there are worse things out there)

Emily Kusche Stands out. Impeccable.

Möhring is solid, sometimes great, sometimes not so much. Probably not his fault but some of the director's choices.

The sound design is not always flawless. Stemming from its direct to TV -production.

Some minor characters are mediocre at best. Especially the police chief (not Herzsprung). Overacted, dumb and kills the illusion.

Some pacing issues in the second half.

A very odd music choice for the credits.

Some even to the most oblivious viewers very concerning and obvious mistakes by the police. (Did they not have a strategic consultant?) As well as more rather bad acting.

But overall solid. Gripping. Heartfelt. And a triumph for Kusche.

7/10.