Daniel Radcliffe's riveting thriller Escape from Pretoria can now be watched at no cost. The 2020 release, based on actual events, features the Harry Potter star as Tim Jenkin, a South African anti-apartheid campaigner jailed for his political involvement. Drawing from Jenkin's autobiography Inside Out: Escape from Pretoria Prison, the narrative chronicles his audacious scheme to flee Pretoria Prison with two fellow prisoners after receiving a 12-year sentence.
Critical Acclaim and Tense Narrative
The nail-biting thriller is helmed by Francis Annan, who co-penned the script with L. H. Adams. Following its debut, the production has garnered acclaim for its tension-filled narrative and Radcliffe's captivating portrayal. In their assessment, The Sun branded it "unbearably tense", drawing parallels with Ben Affleck's Oscar-winning thriller Argo while commending its polished direction.
MovieWeb, meanwhile, emphasised its brisk pacing and nerve-wracking sequences, noting the film contains numerous "hold your breath" moments while lauding Radcliffe for consistently pursuing bold and demanding projects.
Cast and Where to Watch
Daniel Radcliffe heads a formidable ensemble cast in Escape from Pretoria. Daniel Webber portrays Stephen Lee, while Ian Hart takes the role of anti-apartheid campaigner Denis Goldberg. Mark Leonard Winter appears as Leonard Fontaine, Nathan Page plays Mongo, and Grant Piro takes on the role of Captain Schnepel.
Having recently aired on Film4, Escape from Pretoria is now freely available to stream on Channel 4 with adverts, according to Digital Spy. For those who prefer uninterrupted viewing, a Channel 4+ subscription provides ad-free streaming, complete with a seven-day free trial. The film is additionally accessible via Netflix.
Fans wishing to explore more of Radcliffe's back catalogue will find plenty to enjoy on Prime Video. Highlights include Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, in which the actor transforms into legendary parody musician "Weird Al" Yankovic. For a considerably darker offering, the 2016 thriller Imperium sees Radcliffe portray an FBI agent who goes undercover to infiltrate a violent white supremacist organisation. Also available to stream is the action-comedy Guns Akimbo, in which Radcliffe plays an ordinary computer programmer thrust into a brutal underground contest where he must fight to survive.
Escape from Pretoria is available to stream on Channel4.com.
