![Standing center stage, senior Ananya Akula conducts the Phoenix Chorale. “[Conducting and teaching] is really fun,” Akula said. “Music education is what I want to do.” On the day of the choir assessment, Akula found out that she received the President’s Music Scholarship – a full ride to the University of Miami Frost School of Music.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ananya-1200x800.jpg)
![Senior Fatima Qaderi grew into the person she wanted to become when she was younger and continues to work towards growing more confident in using her voice when it matters. “I didnt get treated the way I wanted to be treated, and I realized that it wasnt just them treating me the wrong way, it was me treating me the wrong way,” Qaderi said. “I forced them to like to look at me in a way where Im someone who needs to be respected; they cant just disregard me, they cant just look over me because I have a different opinion, because Im a woman, because Im Afghan, because Im Muslim, or whatever. It just took going through different experiences to figure out how [I wanted to] be heard.” Photo courtesy of Fatima Qaderi.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3870.jpeg)
![With the energy and effort the Bolts were bringing to the game, the Phoenix had to step up and match them to make it through their first game of the season. Many of the girls on the team, including freshman Nazly Rostom, have been playing soccer since their childhood and have grown a love for the sport as a result. “It was fun to see how we actually played in a [real] game,” Rostom said. “Even though the outcome was not what we were hoping for, I’m still happy we got to play together.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DSC_0154-1200x800.jpg)
![Held up by a group of cheerleaders, flyer sophomore Leyu Yonas poses as part of a stunt, also supported by flyer junior Shayne Mitchell behind her. (Left) Prior to the pink out football game on Oct. 13, the athletes practiced in the aux gym from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Right) On Oct. 19, the cheerleaders competed in their District Championships at Woodgrove High School. “We definitely put all our effort on the mat [at Districts], and it showed,” Mitchell said. Left: Photo by Nadia Shirr. Right: Photo by Steve Prakope via Victor O’Neill Studios.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/feature-image-1200x823.png)
![Sophomore Xavier Smith (6), the Phoenix quarterback, runs the ball as his teammates help hold up the defense. “My [offensive] line collapses, so I just [have to run], and its a good way to get first downs because [Tuscarora’s] defense was really good,” Smith said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_5383-1200x897.jpg)
![As the referee throws the ball up for the tip-off, freshman Simone Diby leaps towards the ball to get it in Phoenix possession. Diby is a new member of the Phoenix girls basketball team, and despite it being a change, she finds it enjoyable. “It’s definitely a different experience if you’ve never played on a team, [but] I think it’s still fun.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DSC_0057-1200x662.jpg)
There’s “No Exit” In Sight to Escape This Dull Thriller
Hulu’s new thriller will leave you disappointed with its predictability and lack of “thrill.”
“No Exit” had a great idea of placing its characters in a real-life horror situation; however, its execution is where the movie fell short.
March 22, 2022
Contains major spoilers.
Based on Taylor Adam’s novel of the same name, Hulu Original “No Exit” was released on Feb. 25. The story follows Darby Thorne (Havana Rose Liu) who must drive home in the middle of a blizzard to visit her dying mother in the hospital. Unfortunately, the storm causes her to stay at a rest stop atop a mountain along with four other strangers: Ed (Dennis Haysbert), Sandi (Dale Dickey), Ash (Danny Ramirez), and Lars (David Rysdahl). While out looking for cell reception, Darby discovers a young girl bound and gagged in one of the stranger’s van. Now the group must find out who the kidnapper is before the situation gets out of hand.
“No Exit” fails to capture the viewer’s attention by starting slowly with Darby escaping from rehab and eventually meeting the group at the rest stop. The movie also revealed the kidnapper within the first 20 minutes, losing the one factor that drew viewers in — the mystery. To pass time, the group decides to play some card games together and get to know each other. This is where viewers meet Lars, a character who is meant to come off as weird and crazy –and tip off the viewer that he is the kidnapper. Not only was Lars revealed too early, but he was also the obvious choice and had no shock factor.
The reveal would have had more impact if a character like Ed was the kidnapper, a character who was instantly trusted by Darby and the viewer because of his easy-going nature and military background. If Lars were a red herring, the reveal of the true kidnapper would’ve been a surprising twist.
In addition to predictability, the writing was not the best. I understand that they were all strangers and did not have to reveal personal stories, but the dialogue was very forgettable. It went from insulting Lars for being creepy and weird, to uncomfortable conversations between the other four characters. Not a single piece of dialogue stood out; in fact, most of it was forgotten after I finished the movie.
However, I will admit that “No Exit” wasn’t all bad and did have some twists that made some parts bearable. For example, the reveal that Ash is working with Lars and that Sandi hired them to kidnap the young girl was not expected and helped the movie fight off the predictable horror cliches. By the last act of the movie, I found myself invested because of the new threats Darby now faced as well as how she would overcome them.
The movie also did a good job of establishing an eerie atmosphere. The rest stop atop the mountain is scary enough, but add a kidnapper into the mix along with no way of alerting authorities and you find yourself feeling uneasy as you watch the movie. Personally, I prefer horror movies that are rooted in real fears like killers and kidnapping, and the fact that the main scare factor of “No Exit” is the kidnappers is what makes it a more effective thriller compared to horror films with supernatural monsters.
Overall, “No Exit” was a generic thriller that you can watch on a slow weekend. It may not scare you much, but it will provide some moments that will have you on the edge of your seat. I give the movie 3/5 stars for its slow plot, stale dialogue, and flat characters.
“No Exit” is available to watch on Hulu.
