Cube

Cube is a Canadian sci-fi which was evidently made on a small budget. Co-writer and director Vincenzo Natali attempts to make a virtue of filming on a single set, an elaborate maze of connected metal boxes in which an ill-assorted bunch of characters find themselves.

The film begins cleverly as a man discovers himself in this cell-like room and, in trying to escape, sets off a fatal boobytrap. We then meet Quentin, (Maurice Dean Wint) a cop, Dr. Holloway (Nancy Guadagni), a conspiracy theorist, Worth, (David Hewlettm) a cynical bureaucrat, Rennes (Wayne Robinson), an escape artist, Leaven, (Nicole deBoer), a maths student, and Kazan (Andrew Miller), a mentally challanged character – they're all trapped in the cube.

After that good start, the film quickly becomes boring as it becomes clear we, the audience, are trapped in this wretched cube as well – and it's not a very interesting place to be. Nor are the characters we're trapped with very good company.

Margaret's Comments: While Cube sets up a very interesting idea it doesn't sustain it well enough for a feature film length. There are compensations, however, particularly in the visuals. Director Vincenzo Natali was the storyboard artist for Johnny Mnemonic and his design of the Cube is eye catching, even if the drama ultimately doesn't fulfil it's potential.