A Movie Review of Cube

Released in the year 1997, this movie has managed to muster somewhat of a cult following and a few sequels in the years to follow.

"Cube", which is a Canadian film, is premised on a group of random strangers who wake up finding themselves trapped in complex labyrinth of cubic rooms riddled with high-tech deathtraps ranging from acid spewing nozzles to sound sensing needles that protract and retract from walls. In their effort to find a way out and to find some answers as to where they are and why they're there, these strangers inevitably clash with each other as the strain of their circumstance and the threat of dehydration slowly creeps in on them.

I was in college when I first watched this movie and I have watched it quite a few times since. During the time, there was practically no other movie that was comparable to it, at least in terms of concept.

Though some of the characters did come off as a little archetypical (the tough cop who takes charge, the autistic character who's actually a genius, etc.), "Cube" is an effective movie in terms of maintaining an atmosphere of drama and tension, while not being cluttered down by slow dialogue or pointless over-dramatization. And though the premise and environment of this movie is clearly sci-fi in nature, "Cube" actually defines itself as a socio-philosophical work, where the focus is more on exploring the human condition rather than on the hard science of the environment itself.

Being a low-budget, non-star studded, independent Canadian film, "Cube" never really made it into the mainstream and was mostly ignored by American audiences, which was unfortunate.

For those who might want to take a gander at "Cube", it's definitely worth a look, especially if you happen to be interested in a "thinking" movie or a contemplative sci-fi. But for those of you who are looking more for some cheap thrills and easy entertainment, "Cube" may not be the thing for you. As for me, who enjoys a little bit of both every now and then, "Cube" is a thriller with brains and a definite must see for those who consider themselves to be sci-fi fans. So in short, it's an easy two thumbs up.

"Cube" is directed by Vincenzo Natali and stars Nicole de Boer, Nicky Guadagni, David Hewlett, Andrew Miller, Wayne Robson, and Maurice Dean Wint. With a run time of about 90 minutes, "Cube" is rated R for some occasional violence and gore.