7 complete strangers of widely varying personality characteristics are involuntarily placed in an endless kafkaesque maze containing deadly traps.
Long before the release of “SAW” there was someone else who wanted to play a game, fellow nerds welcome to the “Cube” franchise review.
When you watch this film it’s hard to believe it’s 15 years old, released in 1997 it still holds up to today’s film standards and is even better in some cases, this is a film that was ahead of it’s time. In the 90’s people wanted more Thriller than Horror and whilst you get that suspense and mystery you also get the gore and violence. We get to view the human mind at work, the survival instinct and paranoia both kicking in and it’s fascinating to see.
I love the mixture of the cast, no-one is like anyone else so we have a big clash of personalities which makes for great entertainment, it keeps the interest of the viewer going through out the film and you see how different people can work together. The acting isn’t the best we’ve seen but it’s good enough to keep you entertained.
When I speak with others about this film I always get a positive response, I am yet to meet someone who dislikes it and that’s something of a rarity as you usually get a split crowd with any release. The power of this film lies in it’s mysteries so I’ve tried not to give too much away so forgive me if this review seems a little short.
Hollywood can keep their multi-million, star driven films, as-long as we get releases like this from the lower end of the spectrum of film making I’ll be a happy man. “Cube” shows us that a highly original idea is the importance, that and a group of dedicated cast and crew. Remember low budget does not equal low quality!
It’s not too often that I say this but this is a MUST-SEE movie! I find it amazing how many people haven’t seen this and if you’re one of them then make it a priority to watch this film, you won’t be disappointed.
Miscellaneous facts about the film:
Shot on a single 14’x14′ set, made to look like many different cubes through the use of different-colored panels.
All of the characters are named after prisons: Quentin (San Quentin, California), Holloway (England), Kazan (Russia), Rennes (France), Alderson (Alderson, West Virginia), Leaven and Worth (Leavenworth, Kansas).
Not only are the characters named after prisons but they reflect the prisons themselves. Example: Kazan (the mentally challenged character), in Russia is a disorganized prison. Rennes (the “mentor”) was a jail that pioneered many of today’s prison policies. Quentin (the detective) is known for its brutality. Holloway is a women’s prison, and Alderson is a prison where isolation is a common punishment. Leavenworth runs to a rigid set of rules (Leaven’s mathematics), and the new prison is corporately owned and built (Worth, hired as an architect).
To show their support for the Toronto film industry, the special effects company C.O.R.E. did the digital effects for free.
Director Vincenzo Natali directed a follow-up short film in which we see what is outside the cube. Natali has made a solemn vow never to reveal what was outside the cube, and destroyed the video years ago.
One of the earlier drafts of the script had the characters finding bizarre alien food. The idea was subsequently lost after it gave too clear a definition as to who was responsible for the cube.
The handles on all the hatches are industrial die holders used for cutting threads on rods and available in any hardware shop.
Was the last movie to be released in Canada by Cineplex Odeon Films before they were absorbed into Alliance and changed to Odeon Films.
Director Vincenzo Natali went to high school with actor David Hewlett. Moreover, Hewlett recommended that Natali cast Andrew Miller as Kazan. Hewlett had previously worked with Miller in a play.
This film was shot in twenty days.
All the characters were chartered accountants in the original first draft of the script.
Director Vincenzo Natali originally wanted to shoot the movie in chronological order, but had to disregard this idea because the doors on the cubes weren’t working right.
The majority of this film was shot with a hand-held camera.
