Yet another science-fiction oriented young adult series debuts from 20th Century-Fox, the studio that has specialized in science-fiction epics since the 1960s. This one has amnesiac young men trying to survive in a glade surrounded by a huge stone maze. The maze changes form every night and is home to creatures that ensure that anyone who leaves the glade at night perishes by dawn. Then one specific young man, Thomas (Dylan O’Brien), is delivered to the glade, and things really begin to happen.
This concept reminded me, unfavorably, of The Hunger Games, because they share the scenario of young people being hunted down and killed for seemingly no reason. Of course there is reason, but they don’t know what it is, and for most of the film’s running time, neither do we. The reason is provided in the story’s final act, but I cannot say that I believe it; things were not what they seemed to be throughout, and that seems to be true at the ending, too. That is very frustrating for someone like me who is always searching for understanding.
But like The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner is a deftly produced movie, with really cool sets and special effects and decent development of its main characters. The story is, despite my reticence, quite involving. Only two things really bothered me. Before the girl shows up, none of the young men ever even mentioned girls (that was an obvious omission; their minds hadn’t been wiped so well that they forgot girls!) and when the Griever is examined and is seen to be at least partly manufactured, no one even mentions that the thing is man-made. Why couldn’t they see that or address it in some way?
Wes Ball’s movie is exciting and kinetic enough to thrill audiences of all ages, and the international cast does a nice collective job as an ensemble — although at least half of them won’t be in the sequel. Phase Two should be very interesting, although it, too, promises more conundrum than clarity. I’m still not sold on the concept but the movie is solidly entertaining. ☆ ☆ 1/2. 7 October 2014.