Classic Thoughts: Cube

First of all, I’m sorry about missing yesterday’s DVD Picks column. I was away from the computer for most of the day and never got a chance to post it.

Anyways, this week I’m looking at a Canadian sci-fi/horror film that is now considered a cult classic.

The plot of the film is simple: 7 strangers have to navigate a maze made up of seemingly endless number of cube-shaped rooms, with some of the rooms featuring deadly traps.

The film does a good job of telling a compelling story in what is essentially the same 14×14 foot room repeated with different colours. Also, as the story goes on, it becomes less about the traps and more about developing the characters (with your perseption of each changing throughout the film).

Last night, I saw the film’s sequel Hypercube and I was definitely not as impressed with that film as the first (I plan on watching the prequel, Cube Zero, tonight. Hopefully that one will be better — not betting on it).

Either way, the original Cube is definitely worth checking out.

8/10

EDIT: After watching both of the sequels, I have to determine that Cube Zero is the closest to the original (even though it has a greater emphasis on the traps). In the end, I have to conclude that neither film can match up to the original.