Rent No Way Out (1987)

Glossy Paranoia, Political Rot, and a Limo Romp for the Ages—'80s Thrillers don’t get Much Sleeker - No Way Out review by griggs

No Way Out is a sharp, twisty thriller that blends Cold War paranoia with a slick murder mystery. The story's got plenty going on—surveillance, power plays, and the creeping fear that nobody's quite who they claim to be. While it's not in the same class as The Conversation and The Parallax View, it sits comfortably alongside them in tone and subject matter, swapping their grim introspection for glossy tension and a dash of melodrama.

Roger Donaldson keeps things tight and pacy, especially in the Pentagon scenes, which unfold in real-time and hum with tension. Kevin Costner is surprisingly layered here, mixing charm with just enough unease. Gene Hackman does what he does best—gruff authority shading into moral murk—while Will Patton nearly steals the show as his eerily loyal aide. Sean Young is more presence than character, but she's memorable despite limited screen time.

It's not quite top-tier stuff, and like many '80s thrillers, the clunky computer tech hasn't aged well. The infamous sex scene—in a limo, naturally—is equally of its time: audacious, a bit ridiculous, and strangely charming. Both elements date the film but also add to its pulpy appeal. It's no masterpiece, but the plot keeps you guessing. A solid pick if you're after something suspenseful, with that classic '80s sheen that will surely evoke a sense of nostalgia and a whiff of political rot.

Superbly Plotted Thriller - No Way Out review by GI

The film that launched Kevin Costner's career as a leading actor and a super smart, cat & mouse thriller it is too. He plays US Navy Intelligence officer Tom Farrell who is appointed as the intel' liaison for Senator Brice (Gene Hackman), the Secretary of Defence. He gets the job through a friendship with Scott Pritchard (Will Patton), Brice's aide-de-camp and who is fiercely loyal to Brice. The trouble is Tom begins a passionate relationship with Susan (Sean Young) who is also Brice's mistress. When she refuses to tell Brice who she is seeing he flies into a rage and kills her. To protect his boss Pritchard begins a cover-up investigation claiming she was murdered by a Russian spy and he puts Tom in charge and he quickly suspects the spy story is false and that Brice is the killer. This is a twist and turn plot with espionage aspects and some fantastic chase sequences. It's a really good gem of a film with a surprise ending and even if you've seen this and know the ending it's definitely worth checking out again. If you've not seen it then it's a real treat.