Complaint expressions used by the main characters in No Escape movie

This research aims to analyzed complaint expressions used by the main characters in the film No Escape (2015) which shows the phenomenon of complaint expressions and hearer responses based on theory of Trosborg’s (1995). There are two problems to be solved in this study, namely: (1) What types of complaint expressions are used by the characters in No Escape Movie, and (2) How are the complaint expressions applied by the speakers responded to by the hearers. This study applied a qualitative descriptive method to identify, classify, and interpret various types of complaints and hearer responses. The data were collected first by the downloading and watched the “No Escape” movie several times with the transcription as data sources and highlighted the utterances that contained the data based on the dialogue. The transcription was then analyzed by identifying with the types of complaint and hearer responses by applying suitable codes in the appropriate text. The analyzes reveals that the most dominant type of complaint used by the characters is Hints and Annoyance were the most frequently used, suggesting a tendency towards indirect expressions of dissatisfaction within the intimate, high-stress family dynamic but still respect with each other, including how they speak and complaint the situation. However, the critical context also prompted the use of more direct strategies such as Direct Accusation and Explicit Condemnation of the Accused’s Action. These results demonstrate how communicative strategies adapt under extreme pressure, highlighting a blend of politeness-driven indirectness in complaints and a strong reliance on self-justification in responses, reflecting the characters' efforts to navigate interpersonal dynamics amidst a fight for survival.