Directed by:
Vincenzo NataliCinematography:
Derek RogersComposer:
Mark KorvenCast:
Maurice Dean Wint, Nicole de Boer, Nicky Guadagni, David Hewlett, Andrew Miller, Julian Richings, Wayne RobsonVOD (3)
Plots(1)
Five strangers find themselves trapped in a maze-like prison. Led by cop Quentin (Maurice Dean Wint) and expert jailbreaker Rennes (Wayne Robson) they move from room to room, discovering several traps along the way. Maths student Leaven (Nicole De Boer) ascertains that the numbers on each room reveal which is safe, but this does not prevent the death of Rennes. The group are then joined by the autistic Kazan (Andrew Miller), who also has a gift for numbers. It soon becomes clear that each of them possesses the peculiar skills necessary to escape their prison, if they don't wind up dead first. (Lionsgate Home Entertainment)
(more)Reviews (7)
A strange film, but in a good way. I can kind of see why In the Tall Grass was given to Vincenzo Natali. I was only a little annoyed by some of the actors, but otherwise I have to commend the well-developed and original idea and the oppressive direction, which makes the most of the cubic claustrophobia. The ending didn't bother me at all, I like these types of endings.
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I suddenly fancied rewatching a film that I remembered as excellent and original sci-fi horror and I was quite unpleasantly surprised. Cube is undoubtedly original, but the transition of that premise to the screen was not painless. The script tries to work with the psychology of the characters, but without much success. Actually, the bullshit it forces the characters to say is something I hadn’t seen in a long time. And on top of that, the actors are really awful (the black cop is so bad that it was funny). It was a real disappointment the second time around, the points are mostly for the idea and the atmosphere. 7/10
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Cubegained quite a cult status in both horror circles and among the general public quite soon after its release, which more than anything else speaks to the state of the horror genre in the mid-nineties. While the basic premise, avoiding looking anywhere beyond the titular cube, its creators, and their motivations still work well (however mutilated by the subsequent sequels), the rest of the film's disciplines suffer here like Hus. The whole thing is blighted by terrible editing, scenes separated by blackouts look clueless, the actors aren't guided well, and it's not helped by the terrible drivel that falls out of them when least expected, apparently in an attempt to create a psychological thriller. It probably wouldn't have mattered anyway, and the way the main black guy keeps bulging his eyeballs would earn a knowing nod even from Nicholas "Not the Bees!" Cage. I'd recommend five-star folks remember rather than refresh.
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You can see that if there is an interesting and original script, it is enough for an entire film to take place in a bathroom and the viewer will be satisfied. Well, maybe I'm exaggerating, but I guess so did the creator when he came up with the idea of setting the whole film in one cube. And he pulled it out! I didn't get a chance to get bored for the whole ninety minutes and the only reason I’m not giving it four stars is because I didn't like the ending very much.
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Cube isn't perfect - it has its weaker moments, but you shouldn't let them deter you because what you experience with the characters, even though some may become very annoying, is more than a strong spectacle. Just immerse yourself a little in their role, which isn't that difficult, and you'll realize that this is really something you don't desire, something you would not want to be a part of. As a film, though, it's a powerful experience that showed me that Canadian horror is good and sometimes downright excellent.
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