Puzzling how absurd these games play out
As someone who has taken part in an escape room event, I know how fun an experience it is to be involved in.
Sadly this mystery-thriller wasn’t half as enjoyable as it fumbles a premise packed with potential in favour of unrealistic – almost supernatural – escapades.
Bragi F. Schut and Maria Melnik’s story sees six strangers caught up in a maze of deadly mystery rooms who must use their wits to survive.
If that premise sounds familiar it’s probably because that was pretty much the plot to every Saw movie – and the likes of Cube before them.
The over-familiarity would be easier to accept if the cast were on top form but no-one really stands out from the pack.
Daredevil’s Deborah Ann Woll (Amanda) is the most recognisable face but – like her fellow protagonists – her character is so thinly drawn she could fit between a folded-over piece of paper.
Jay Ellis’ dastardly Jason is so nasty and selfish he may as well have a twirly moustache and top hat.
While the occasional trap stretched credibility, the Saw series at least kept things relatively realistic; here some of the games are so out there you half expect aliens to appear and beam everyone up.
In fact, you could make an argument that Adam Robitel’s previous flick – last year’s Insidious: The Last Key – was more plausible.
The director does create a few tense moments, though; normally involving someone literally teetering on the edge of death.
There are a few unexpected twists and turns too, while the ending defies the absurd earlier developments with a pragmatic explanation for our leading sextet’s plight.
But it’s small pickings on the positives front; you’re likely to want to lock yourself in a room just to avoid watching this nonsense again. The Cloverfield series’ weakest entry can’t seem to settle on what type of movie it wants to be.
It’s at its best as a Twilight Zone-style mystery but the story quickly falls off a cliff.