ALL SCI-FI

[The Spike]

Perilous Pythagoras Puzzle.

Seven strangers awake in a cubical maze, each with a different attribute that may or may not hold the key to getting out alive. For this maze is rigged with deathly traps, one wrong move or sound can bring a horrible death. They must work together or face the consequence, but why are they here? And just what is this point of this highly built construction?.

We open with a quite brilliant scene that ranks up with the best of horror moments from the 1990s. We are introduced to the Cube and its intricate perils, it's the only set we are going to see for the next 90 minutes. Our characters start filtering thru, each of different social standing, and each with a surname linked to famous prisons. They argue about their reasons for being there, throwing up ideas on why someone has selected them for this atrocious "game" and who may be watching them. What we do know, is that it's us that is watching them, we are privy to human beings acting like "rats in a fiendish maze".

I would suggest any prospective newcomer to Cube do little to no research prior to viewing it. Knowing little can surely only enhance the experience. Not in anyway hindered by a marginal budget, and benefiting greatly from having a cast of unknowns fill out the piece. Cube is an intelligent, yes horrific at times, voyeuristic gem of a movie. The mystery element holds tight right the way thru, the characters get more interesting with each frame and the outcome does not annoy like so many other genre pieces have over the years. Co-written and directed by Vincenzo Natali, the film has gained a massive cult following since its late 90s release. And rightly so. For this is excellent thought provoking stuff. The kind the genre could do with far more often. 9/10
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The quality of mercy is not strnen.

[WadeVC]