You know that feeling when you're watching a movie and you think you’ve got it all figured out? You’re sitting there, smugly predicting the next beat. Then, the final five minutes happen. Your jaw hits the floor.
No Way Out is that kind of movie.
Released in 1987, it’s arguably the slickest political thriller of the decade. It stars a young, pre-iconic Kevin Costner as Tom Farrell, a Navy Lieutenant Commander who gets caught in a web so tangled it makes the actual Pentagon look like a game of Chutes and Ladders. Honestly, if you haven't seen it, you're missing out on peak 80s tension.
The Setup You Think You Know
Farrell meets a woman named Susan Atwell (Sean Young) at a fancy D.C. party. They hit it off. Fast. They end up in the back of a limo in a scene that was... well, pretty scandalous for 1987. But here’s the kicker: Susan is also the mistress of the Secretary of Defense, David Brice.
Gene Hackman plays Brice. He’s brilliant. He’s powerful. He’s also a man who accidentally kills Susan in a jealous rage.
That’s where things get messy.
Brice’s right-hand man, Scott Pritchard (played with terrifying intensity by Will Patton), decides to cover up the murder. His plan? Invent a fake Soviet spy named "Yuri" and pin the killing on him. The irony is so thick you could cut it with a bayonet: Brice puts Farrell—the man who was actually having the affair with the victim—in charge of the manhunt for the "killer."
Why No Way Out Is a Masterclass in Anxiety
The movie turns into a literal race against a computer.
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Farrell has to lead an investigation into himself. He’s stuck in the Pentagon while a primitive digital image-enhancer slowly reconstructs a Polaroid from the crime scene. It's a low-res nightmare. Bit by bit, the face in the photo becomes clearer.
Farrell knows that once that image is finished, he’s a dead man.
The pacing is relentless. Director Roger Donaldson uses the geography of the Pentagon—the endless corridors, the badge checks, the feeling of being trapped in a beige labyrinth—to make you feel Farrell’s claustrophobia. It's called No Way Out for a reason. You’re basically holding your breath for the entire second half.
That Ending (No Spoilers, Sorta)
Okay, look. People talk about The Sixth Sense or The Usual Suspects, but the twist in No Way Out is a heavy hitter.
It changes the context of every single thing you just watched.
When the reveal happens, it doesn't just pull the rug out from under you; it removes the entire floor. You realize Farrell wasn't just a victim of circumstance. He was playing a much, much deeper game. It’s the kind of ending that makes you want to rewind the tape (or, you know, restart the stream) immediately to see what you missed.
Production Facts That Actually Matter
- The "Georgetown" Subway: There’s a famous chase scene where Costner runs into a Georgetown Metro station. Fun fact: Georgetown doesn't actually have a Metro station. D.C. locals still laugh about that one.
- The Limo Scene: Costner and Sean Young had zero rehearsal for that famous romantic encounter. Donaldson just let the cameras roll to keep it authentic and raw.
- The Original Story: It’s actually a remake. The film is based on the 1946 novel The Big Clock by Kenneth Fearing, which was first filmed in 1948. They just swapped the publishing world for the Cold War Pentagon.
The Costner Factor
1987 was a monster year for Kevin Costner.
Between this and The Untouchables, he went from "that guy who got cut out of The Big Chill" to a massive A-list star. He has this specific brand of "approachable hero" energy here. You trust him. You want him to win. That’s exactly why the movie works so well—it weaponizes your trust in him as a leading man.
Gene Hackman is equally vital. He doesn't play Brice as a cartoon villain. He’s a man who made a horrible mistake and is now drowning in the consequences. The chemistry (or lack thereof) between him and Will Patton’s character adds a layer of toxic loyalty that makes the stakes feel even grittier.
Is It Still Worth Watching?
Absolutely.
Even with the dated 80s tech—the "high-speed" computers look like calculators now—the psychological pressure holds up. It deals with themes that never go out of style: power, corruption, and the way the truth gets buried under "national security."
If you're looking for a tight, 114-minute thriller that doesn't treat the audience like they're stupid, this is it. It’s currently streaming on several platforms (like Tubi or Pluto TV, depending on your region), and it’s a perfect Friday night watch.
Next Steps for the Ultimate Experience:
- Watch the 1948 version of The Big Clock right after. It’s fascinating to see how the same "innocent man trapped in an investigation" trope works in a noir setting versus a Cold War setting.
- Pay attention to Will Patton. His performance as Pritchard is arguably the best in the movie. It’s a masterclass in "unhinged devotion."
- Look for the "Yuri" clues. On a second viewing, you’ll notice Farrell does things that don't make sense for a standard Navy officer but make perfect sense for a deep-cover operative.