The Twisted Ending of Escape Plan: A Masterclass in Deception
In the 2013 action thriller Escape Plan, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character, Rottmeyer, is a mysterious figure shrouded in secrecy. As the story unfolds, Ray Breslin (Sylvester Stallone) and Rottmeyer form an unlikely friendship, working together to plot their escape from the supposedly inescapable prison, The Tomb. But just as they think they’ve pulled off the ultimate heist, the truth is revealed: Rottmeyer is none other than the notorious thief, Mannheim.
Mannheim’s backstory is that he is a master thief who steals from the rich to give to the poor, and he has been posing as Rottmeyer to avoid being tortured into revealing his true identity. His plan was to use Ray to help him escape and clear his name, rather than actually assist in his own imprisonment. But why did Mannheim go to such great lengths to disguise himself as Rottmeyer?
The answer lies in the fact that Mannheim has made many enemies in his line of work, and if caught, he would be subject to intense interrogation and potentially even execution. By posing as Rottmeyer, he avoided the risk of being tortured for information and instead was able to receive rough treatment as the head of security, leaving him alone and isolated in his cell. Despite this, Mannheim’s true identity remained hidden, and it wasn’t until the very end of the film that Ray finally discovered the truth.
The twist is a testament to the complexity of Mannheim’s character, a master of deception who is driven by a desire to see justice served, but is willing to go to great lengths to ensure his own survival. As the story comes full circle, it becomes clear that the true escape plan was not to break out of The Tomb, but to reveal the truth about Mannheim’s identity and clear his name.
