Based on the real story that still puzzles people to this day.
The movie follows John, played by Clint Eastwood, a prisoner with high IQ who has escaped from multiple prisons before.
This time, he’s sent to Alcatraz a prison built on an island, surrounded by freezing waters and full of tight security. It had 12 headcounts a day, and everything was watched closely.
The best part about this movie is how real and grounded it feels. There’s not much background music or fast camera movement. it’s mostly about the acting, smart writing, and how they planned every small step to escape.
Watching John use his brain and slowly find a way out, right under the guards' noses, kept me hooked from start to end.
Even though it’s a film made more than 50 years ago, it never felt boring. It’s simple, clever, and holds up even today.
Did You Know?
- The film is based on the real 1962 escape attempt from Alcatraz by Frank Morris and the Anglin brothers, who were never found again.
- It was shot on location at Alcatraz, making it one of the few films allowed to do so at that time.
- Clint Eastwood did many of his own stunts, including the tense scenes in narrow prison shafts.
- The real escape involved papier mâché dummy heads placed on beds to fool guards exactly as shown in the movie.
- Directed by Don Siegel, this was his final collaboration with Eastwood after five previous films, including Dirty Harry
Rating: ★★★ (3.5/5)
Note: Available to stream on Netflix — Watch Here
Watch the trailer here — Trailer
