Escape from Pretoria
Directed by Francis AnnanSouth Africa, 1978. Tim Jenkin and Stephen Lee, two white political activists from the African National Congress imprisoned by the apartheid regime, put a plan in motion to escape from the infamous Pretoria Prison.
Cast of Escape from Pretoria
Escape from Pretoria Ratings & Reviews
- AaronSeptember 5, 2025Decent movie with Daniel. Even the secondary actor was pretty good. Interesting the way it all works out in the end.
- HakihikoJune 25, 2025Solid Premise, Flat Execution "Escape from Pretoria" tells the true story of a daring prison break during apartheid-era South Africa. The premise is genuinely intriguing, and the historical context adds weight to the events. Daniel Radcliffe delivers a committed performance as Tim Jenkin, and the attention to the mechanics of the escape provides some suspenseful moments. However, the movie struggles to fully capitalize on its potential. The pacing is uneven, with long stretches that feel repetitive or lack urgency. The character development is minimal, making it harder to become emotionally invested in the protagonists beyond their cause. There's a sense of detachment that prevents the tension from truly landing. The production is competent, and there are a few gripping sequences, especially involving the handcrafted wooden keys and tight prison routines. But overall, the film feels a bit too safe and straightforward for such a potentially nail-biting story. Overall, "Escape from Pretoria" is a decent watch with a strong concept, but it misses the mark in terms of emotional depth and narrative tension. It's worth seeing for the true story, but don’t expect a fully gripping thriller.
- jackmeatMarch 20, 2025My quick rating - 6.5/10. As good as this movie is done, the whole time all I could think about was all the idiots out there that watch ASMR channels. I mean really people, if you need 20 minutes of someone crumpling up paper, pick up a piece of paper and do it. Soon after, call a therapist. The reason I say this is the planned escape of these three men is very methodical and precise. So when things such as sneaking around halls and not be heard, which is the MAIN example of the ASMR thing, a guard walking down a hall can take forever, and the obnoxiously loud breathing during said scene gets almost unbearable. But it keeps the tension going, that is for sure. Aside, from being massively distracted by this fact, the story is simple yet effective. And also based on the truth. Get locked up for your political ideals in South Africa, and immediately start plotting your escape. Worth the watch though, and quite interesting in how they go about it. Radcliffe definitely turns in one of his better performances here.
- Jason LaytonMarch 12, 2025powerful story
