Directed by:
Vincenzo NataliCinematography:
Derek RogersComposer:
Mark KorvenCast:
Maurice Dean Wint, Nicole de Boer, Nicky Guadagni, David Hewlett, Andrew Miller, Julian Richings, Wayne RobsonVOD (2)
Plots(1)
This low-budget science-fiction drama, winner of a 1997 Toronto Film Festival prize for "Best Canadian First Feature," depicts the plight of a group of people clad in prison-style uniforms and trapped in futuristic cube-like metal cells. Their memories are hazy; no one can recall how they got there. Alderson (Julian Richings) awakens in a cell, seeks an exit, and arrives in an adjacent cube where he's sliced and diced. Former cop Quentin (Maurice Dean-Wint) becomes the group leader, and he's challenged by conspiracy theorist Dr. Holloway (Nicky Guadagni). Government worker Worth (David Hewlett) remembers a past government link to the project. A discovery that the cubes have numerical codes suggests study by math-student Leaven (Nicole deBoer) while former thief Rennes (Wayne Robson) knows some escape tricks. However, the extreme behavior of Kazan (Andrew Miller) becomes a threat to their survival. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (7)
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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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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At first, it's very likable and imaginative, but over time, it becomes more and more nonsensical and exaggerated. The characters often fall into pseudo-analysis of each other against the backdrop of a recent terrifying experience that stop being believable the second time around and major personality shifts happen almost from minute to minute. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the ignorance of practically all the characters, which is also the ignorance of the audience. The sudden surprise that can hide in any room is taken to an absolute peak here, which is slightly ruined by increasingly complicated math games.
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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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Criminally squandered potential. The beginning was amazing and I was really into it; and I don't just mean the first scene and the spectacular dismemberment of a human body, but the overall introduction to the concept of the mysterious cube, the trapped characters and the desperate situation they find themselves in. But then the director lets it run too freely, lets the characters talk too much and somehow forgets about the obligations that the idea of a death cube brings with it. I appreciate the attempt at some psychology and outlining the relationships between the victims, but: firstly, it only hinders this type of story, and secondly, any viewer at least a little perceptive will immediately figure out who’s the good and reliable one and who’s the evil and cunning one. The cramped atmosphere was quite palpable, though, and the silent room scene will be etched in my memory for a long time, but in the end I was probably a bit more bored than I should have been, and the expected ending was filmed to open the door for a sequel instead of explaining anything. Cube is definitely an interesting horror film and the right choice for a long winter evening, but, for example, the first Saw is a few steps ahead in its execution. 65%
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