Mini Film Review – The Maze Runner

Yesterday I watched The Maze Runner; and it was pretty good! Directed by Wes Ball, and starring Dylan O’Brien, Ki Hong Lee, and Will Poulter, and based on the book of the same name by James Dashner; The Maze Runner is a dystopian science fiction film, about a group of late teenagers, who have been placed inside a giant elaborate maze, with no idea who they are, or why they are there! I have previously known about these books for many years now, even before this film was originally released, but I have never read them. I sort of had a base idea though as to what these films involved. From the start, it was a bit tricky to jump in with, as it feels like you are missing something with that opening shot of the cage, but that’s sort of the point, as the lead character has no idea who or where he is either. And slowly the film develops, throwing in the occassional moment to make you guess what is happening, or what comes next. I do though still feel like I am missing something, like who is George, and why was his name hidden in the woods, rather than on the wall? The story does feel like it keeps wanting to become Lord of the Flies at points, with the predictable near breakdown’s of the society; but then it rather cleverly turns it around, with that rather shocking ending. You know a reveal is coming, something that will explain everything, in a near M. Night Shyamalan classical way, but it becomes more and more interesting. It’s sort of like the behind the scenes moments in the video game Portal; it’s something outside of what you can see, but still feels out of place. It’s a constant stream of shocking moments, a shock on top of a shock, in a shock filled sandwich. But it sort of wraps it all nicely together, as on one hand it tells you just enough for you to truly understand what on earth has been going on, but still allows some mystery, to be explained down the next path (like you yourself are inside the maze of the screen…Muhaha)!