Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!
Plot Summary: A group of strangers must solve a series of puzzle rooms in order to survive a sadistic game of death.
Review: Well, "Escape Room" isn't exactly going to win any awards for originality with it's parallels to the "Saw" franchise, the "Cube" trilogy, "13: Game of Death," and a slew of other titles. Nevertheless, the film is still able to be entertaining in its own right and offered clever traps for the characters to navigate. Speaking of which, the characters are intriguing as the audience tries to understand their connection to one another. Honestly I was surprised by the amount of good ideas presented here and how well everything comes together...until the end that is. While the connection the characters have to one another is workable--despite being somewhat disappointing--my main gripe comes with how cornball the events wrap up and that sequel-bait ending. That ending is so cheesy and comical that it's almost cartoonish.
What "Escape Room" does best is create effective tension. Each trap room felt unique and had a layer of depth and planning we don't usually see depicted. In other words, the rooms were meant to connect to the lives of the characters while also syncing up with the previous room. For example, the opening room is intentionally hot in order for the characters to remove as much clothing as possible before going into the next room which wants them to be cold. Follow this up with the cold room creating a weakened and delirious state which is played upon in the upside down room, disorienting them further. Adding to this is that each room does have a connection to the characters with little items to remind them of their past trauma that connects them. "Saw" was somewhat able to pull this off, but "Escape Room" showed an expert level of crafting and plotting that those other "death game" movies lacked.
The other aspect that worked was likable characters. Sure, they're not going to win any writing awards, but their banter and interactions were fun. Making their connection to one another being that they're all sole survivors is cool yet not fully realized. It would have been amazing had each person's accident contributed to the other person's in a manner similarly to "Final Destination 2," but I suppose that would be difficult to write. Nevertheless, this notion that they were all the last person standing and now must be the sole survivor among a group of other sole survivors enhances the struggle. Finally, I want to add that Taylor Russell excellently pulls of that dorky-cute approach as Zoey; I'd do some escape rooms with her that's for sure!
Unfortunately, we get the same shenanigans of a shady corporation or "rich people" masterminding everything. Weak. I get it though--it's a safe explanation that can wrap up any plot contrivance. After all, the "Saw" franchise spent sequel after sequel filling in the holes to explain how one, sickly old man could have done everything depicted in the first entry. However, when this "company" can know the color of a coat you had in the middle of the ocean, and the get well cards you had at the hospital, we are reaching supernatural levels of omniscience. Making matters worse is how over the top and Dr. Claw-esque the supposed "gamemaster" is shown to be. It just sucks to have a terrific buildup throughout the movie only to be introduced to an exposition character, convenient explanations, and a shadowy figure all within like 5 minutes before the credits roll.
Overall, "Escape Room" is just as you'd imagine but in the best of ways. The puzzles aren't as mind-boggling as "Cube," as splatter-riffic as "Saw," or pushing any extremes like the Asian death games, however, this doesn't mean you can't enjoy this movie for its own merits. The traps are unique enough to stand out among the crowd, there is a respectable mystery regarding the characters and their connection, and the design of the rooms and the way they build off one another is better than most of the films that are inspiring "Escape Room." This isn't a movie that will change the formula of death games, but it's a worthy addition without a doubt.
Notable Moment: When the group is trying to get out of the upside down room. I think this had just the right level of intensity to keep audiences on their toes, and Amanda dying is an upset I don't think audiences will expect.
Final Rating: 6.5/10
