Cube Zero Movie
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Storyline
TAGLINES
Isolation - Panic - Terror
Every nightmare has a beginning.
A young man whose job is to watch over the Cube endeavours to rescue an innocent woman trapped in one of its rooms.
| Zachary Bennett | Eric Wynn |
| Stephanie Moore | Cassandra Rains |
| Michael Riley | Jax |
| Martin Roach | Haskell |
| David Huband | Dodd |
| Mike 'Nug' Nahrgang | Meyerhold |
| Richard McMillan | Bartok |
| Terri Hawkes | Jellico |
| Tony Munch | Owen |
| Jasmin Geljo | Ryjkin |
| Diego Klattenhoff | Quigley |
| Alexia Filippeos | Little Girl |
| Fernando Cursione | Doctor |
| Araxi Arslanian | Female Doctor |
| Joshua Peace | Finn |
| Ernie Barbarash |
5.60 out of 10 (5124 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Screw Hypercube
posted on 19 Jun 2009I was afraid to see Cube Zero after the atrocity of Hypercube; by law of sequels, Cube Zero had to be even worse, and my mind just could not imagine that. Thankfully, The Law of Sequels does not apply here. Cube Zero, while not great, is--well nevermind, I'll spare you the lame hypercube trans-dimensional pun.Let's get the complaints out of the way – Okay, one does not have to blatantly copy the original Cube to let the audience know we're going back to that style. One can capture the feel of the original and give occasional nods without ripping entire concepts straight out of that film (ala, the opening and closing scenes, checking the rooms with the boots.) Similar to the first complaint, we've all seen conspiracy-theory films. We do not need any emphasis (at all) on the possibility of a conspiracy. Let's put this in perspective: people mysteriously wake up in a cubic death machine, and other guys who never see their employers work in a big box. Who exactly needs the suggestion that some conspiring might be going on somewhere? If I see a star cruiser blow up a city, I don't need a transmission from the aliens to know they're invading.Third, the plot point that Rains remembers things, but no one else remembers their names never felt right. It felt like a writing gimmick to bring two characters into conflict for the sake of tension with little regard for the logic governing the bigger picture. Granted, it's left so ambiguous that any reason can legitimately be written in as to why Rains has her memory; however, the ambiguity also leaves enough room to effectively debunk every theory. May the debates begin. Anyway, from a writing perspective, the flow of information throughout the entire film points in the direction of her having total amnesia as well. Again the writing just felt so clunky and uneven around that point, that I had trouble swallowing it.On the bright side, we're back to the look and feel of the original cube where the place is not well lit and the cube actually comes across as intimidating. Aspiring horror directors take note of the atmospheric difference between Hypercube and Cube Zero – look at everything lost in the spic-and-span fluorescent white light hospital cubes with pretty little CG traps. Star Trek on horror? I don't think so. Dirty, grimy, industrial feel with multi-color cubes all the way, baby! And holy crap was that gore I saw early in the film (only once, but it was there)? Real Savini/Fulci-esque gore? Not the "show a second of blood and cut away" gimmick of every single horror film released in America the last few years? Oh my God, it was! Not that I've ever felt blood and guts ever made a horror movie, but it seems like the entire horror industry did a mass migration to PG13 all of a sudden. Is the MPAA coming down that hard on Hollywood, or are studio's trying to sell their product to minors? Like I said, blood never made a horror film, but sometimes it is appropriate. Here's it's appropriate.Another positive note – Cube Zero easily sports the best acting of the entire franchise, though interestingly enough I still like the characters from Cube better. Leaven, Worth, and Rennes from the first film simply rocked, and the new set of victims just seem strangely derivative. Although Micheal Riley's character in Cube Zero is definitely unique to the series, and as much as I hate to admit it he fits in in a really weird abstract way (albeit, pushing the envelope as far as it will go). This film got away with one character like that; however, I don't think it, nor any other sequel, can afford to put in anymore oddballs without losing credibility.Lastly, the step outside the box was a wise move, and the fact we don't go too far outside the box was even wiser. Honestly, the first Cube film did about everything a film can do with people trapped inside a giant box (Hypercube proved this), and I think Cube Zero has gone about as far explaining the Cube as any film should (if there's a sequel, my money's on that film proving my point here).While on the subject of sequels - can we please give one horror franchise the dignity of ending on a positive note and let it be known as a concise, yet effective, series? Isn't that more respectful to the original makers and the fans as opposed to cranking out uninspired sequels every few years?
All the Negative Reviews Crack Me Up!
posted on 12 May 2009This was pretty good. All the criticism of the bad acting and a bad dialog makes me wonder if anyone actually remembers the first Cube and the bad acting there, and worst of all Hypercube, which is rife with terrible acting and inane dialog.Cube Zero is really pretty decent overall, and a good companion to the original movie. The ending explains why the character Kazan in the original Cube might be the way he is, and the mindless Orwellian bureaucracy behind the Cube is exposed, though quite schlocky. All in all, much better than Hypercube, which had a good idea going but is just ruined by irritating characters and poor dialog.
A prequel of inane proportions.
posted on 30 Apr 2009Cube was fantastic. Cube 2: Hypercube was great. Hypercube, to me, was progression. It was a forward-thinking leap from the previous movie, and managed to expand the mystery of the Cube without giving away too much.Cube Zero gives away too much. A good third of the film is spent focused on two button-pushers. Mistake number one: showing the authority outside the Cube (any more than was revealed in Hypercube.)Before I start in on this, let me say that there are semblances in this movie of the original that do make up somewhat for all the bad. The introduction of religion, while subtle, is one of the better points, as well.The writer/director attributes his ideas more to City of Lost Children and Brazil than the previous Cube films. This is a sad comparison to brilliant films. There is a feeble attempt at showing the humanity behind the people who run the Cube, but it never feels fleshed out. It never progresses beyond a few ham-handed realizations that reminisce of the teenagers finding out the plot of Freddy vs. Jason. It feels like a rehash, not even a sequel. The sad attempts at subtle references to communism and democracy and the shear bureaucracy-filing-cabinet feeling of the observation room feels too forced. The ideas are presented, but without the meat to fill its skin.Overall, Cube Zero feels hollow and unnecessary, but not without traces of the roots that made it a classic in my book.
A Good Prequel to Cube - Higher Intensity and Connectivity
posted on 06 Apr 2009Rarely do sequels or prequels, especially the third installment of any horror/occult/science fiction franchise get marginally better, except the Road Warrior and a few others. But Cube Zero is a qualitative much more fascinating and compelling prequel than its earlier Hypercube version that really didn't add anything to its predecessor. In Cube Zero, there is an emotional connection, a mysterious - almost tangible thread - a Brazil-like movie quality. While the beginning shots and a few of the cube's disposals of people were somewhat lame, its overall conception and presentation was qualitative better. The storyline was more dense and rich, the interaction and the plot more sinister and type - getting into the retro-feel. Eight out of Ten Stars.
Wow Very Surprised.....Awesome Prequel
posted on 31 Mar 2009After seeing Hyper Cube, I thought this movie was going to be a pointless movie. However Cube Zero was very good, it was as good as the 1st cube if not better. It didn't try to use go overboard with the special effects. Who ever gives this movie a bad review must of not of watched the other 2 cubes. I have watched the first one at least 5 times and the second one twice. This movie has revived the series and I can't wait for the next cube. The only thing that could of been better was showing more of the. This movie deserves at least a 7 out of 10, but I will give it a 10 out of 10. Just because it was a 5.7 when I left this comment. I thought they did a good job.
Inventive and nearly as good as his latest film -- Progress!
posted on 19 Feb 2009While not nearly up to par with his latest feature They Wait (which is working at a sort of "Hollywood Standard" level), this is a pretty strong third sequel, which is a rare thing. Especially at this budget level. This is a director who's on the way up with each film a step up from the last.Cube Zero was being advertised as a prequel to Vincenzo Natali's sci-fi classic Cube, but this would appear to be some kind of marketing ploy; there's nothing here to indicate any of the film's events transpire prior to Natali's version. But the most surprising thing about Cube Zero is how effective it is, particularly when compared to its predecessor; writer/director Ernie Barbarash employs many of the same elements that made the original so enjoyable (ie incredibly brutal deaths), while also peppering the story with some new elements (the one thing Barbarash doesn't have on his side is freshness, as there's already been one direct-to-video sequel in this franchise).Instead of focusing entirely on a group of characters stuck inside the cube, Barbarash throws in a subplot involving two low-level employees who are responsible for keeping an eye on the cube's victims. As a result, we do learn more about the cube's existence - though Barbarash smartly refuses to divulge everything, occasionally contradicting certain revelations with something entirely different (this is in addition to the appearance of certain elements within the cube that go unexplained). There's even an appearance by an odd, robotic-eye sporting executive named Jax (Michael Riley), who seems as though he'd be more at home in a David Cronenberg flick.Cube Zero opens with a fantastic sequence in which a hapless victim trudges into one of the cube's many rooms, and finds himself sprayed with a water-like substance (suffice it to say, it's not water). It's something that one expects out of a Cube flick - ie flamboyant on-screen deaths - and in that respect, the movie does not disappoint. But, like Natali's original (which is, admittedly, superior), there's more to the film than just blood and gore; it's the escape efforts of these disparate survivors that proves to be the most intriguing aspect of the story.The performances are surprisingly strong, with Stephanie Moore and Zachary Bennett the obvious standouts (the latter is particularly effective as an employee of the cube who makes the mistake of questioning its very existence). And while it would've been nice if the film had answered a few more questions than it posed, there's no denying that Cube Zero is a worthy addition to the franchise.
Questions? Comments? What are we waiting for?
posted on 28 Jan 2009If you go into this film expecting wild rides and visuals that will leave your socks at the other end of the room, you will be utterly disappointed. Now, if you walk into this film expecting a lower-than-low budget, some slightly above average acting, with a fun twist at the end that seems to aptly tie the series only closer together, than you will enjoy this film. I, personally, walked in with no expectations. I was a huge fan of the original Cube film and even of the second film (the one that most disliked) called Cube 2: Hypercube. I thought that overall the story was strong and it opened more doors and possibilities to the birth of this unknown monolith. So, when the opportunity came about to see this film, I walked into it skeptical. How well could a "prequel" be to a series that already started so well? Again, not expecting much is key to enjoying this film.To begin, the story is decent. While I do believe it overloaded itself by answering too many questions, it did provide us with this world outside the cube that seemed like a cross between Brazil and The X-Files. This was great because it provided us with a visual of the unknown that our minds have grappled with throughout the entire series, but it also hurt the film because it did put that "visual" on the unknown. Half the excitement from the second two films was that you never really knew who or what was behind the chaos and destruction that these unwilling participants encountered. I will say that this film leaves the door still open to several possibilities, but the questions that were answered seem to shut so many more. The fear of the first two films was the participants inside the machine that didn't know the menacing smile of the person watching their death, we also experienced that fear because there was that "unknown". Now, the "unknown" is answered (somewhat) and it doesn't quite paint the picture that was created in my mind.I don't want to sound like I am crashing this film into the ground, far from it, but there were several moments while I was watching this movie that I thought to myself, "well, that kinda works for me…" as if I was agreeing with the images that the director chose to use. You know all these years I kept saying to myself that I wanted the answers, yet now that they are presented to me, I am not happy. There was nothing that the director, cast, or even the writers did to make me feel that way, but I just didn't feel comfortable with the translation. It was like seeing your Christmas presents the day before and having to pretend to be excited when you open them ten hours later. It is very difficult. Again, I don't want it to seem as if I am cutting this film, because I thought that it added a decent chapter to the series, just not the best chapter.The acting was at par or a bit under for this film. You could tell that budget was not as big as the first or second film, but the passion that director Ernie Barbarash (who worked as writer and producer of the second Cube film) has for this series and for this story is unmatched. He tries diligently to bring new and exciting characters to the screen, while also keeping us familiar with the other films. He doesn't try to build a new cube and give us this artsy feeling of originality, he keeps consistent, and you can definitely give him credit for that. I just wish he had built more suspense with the story. I was patiently waiting on the edge of my seat for this big "hurrah" at the end, or perhaps middle, but it only seemed to sizzle and give me the excitement of a small bottle rocket exploding. There was a "cute" twist at the end that helps build for Cube, but mustering up the strength to tell your grandmother would be a waste of time.This may be the most confusing review that I have ever written because there is this gray fuzzy line staring me in the face. I love the movie, yet disliked the images that it produced for me. It was innovative, but nothing spectacular. It will be added to my collection, but does not rank among my favorites. There was some great work done by Barbarash, but nothing more than a pat on the back. He did good work and he did hard work, but was this exactly what the series needed? The religious undertones coupled with the apparent "superhero" themes felt like bits of cheese on a wafer of metal known as the cube. Barbarash, I think, had a bigger plan for this film, but do to apparent budgetary cutbacks, he just couldn't fit everything together.Overall, I loved this film, and yet I had problems with it. It was an apparent "Eyah" film. I had so much excitement for it because of my keen interest on the two other films that I think it hurt my imagination and theories behind the cube more than help define this machine better. The segway near the end excited me, yet at the same time felt forced and needed to appease the original Cube fans. This film will make it to my collection of films one-day, but it does not rank up well compared to the films that are supposed to succeed it. I recommend this film only to die-hard Cube fans, but to the untrained eye, this will not brood over well.Arg, I give up.Grade: **** out of *****
Cube gets stoned...
posted on 20 Jan 2009STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All Costs Another group of individuals awake to find themselves trapped within the confinement of the now legendary Cube,with only their wits and their speed to save them.In this instalment,we also learn more about the people behind the Cube and the sinister true reason for it's existence...As I watched Cube:Zero stretch out before me,I couldn't help but feel I was watching yet another example of a great original film,a far-fetched but undeniably inventive and thoroughly engaging science-fiction caper,being milked for all it's worth with tacky video sequels.For any gore-hounds out there,there's some impressive grisly dismemberment scenes to behold and the original angle remains as clever as ever,but it's no cleverer than it was before.The film is just that:a desperate and sad extension of it's original self.It's never made clear what the Zero in the title means,but zero is a name for cannabis,and that's sort of what it feels the screen-writers had been puffing too much of when they penned another entry into the Cube franchise.With some naff new central characters introduced (typical and dourly indicative of this kind of video sludge!) and a slumberous pace,one can only hope that this marks the final part of the now depressingly wearisome Cube franchise.**
Repetition is not necessarily the mother of knowledge...
posted on 18 Jan 2009It is strange how much similarity is between Cube Zero (the third installment of a promising series) and Saw 3: both trying to extend the stage and both ending up no higher then your average horror flick - with a slight plus to Cube Zero. There is a promising idea at the beginning of the film: let's find out what is going on outside the Cube! It works well for about half an hour, as for the two guards in a single room they can't/won't leave - it is almost like the set of the first part, only one cube, where they live, breath and so on. A situation that gives us endless possibilities where to take to story. Unfortunately, the writers take the story where they should not: back into the maze of the Cube, and instantly, everything becomes redundant, in a I-have-seen-this-before way. They start concentrating on the gore again, instead of the characters in and outside the Cube, they try to explain the Cube's existence needlessly, downgrading the whole concept. Should they stayed in the room with the two guards in the monitoring room, observing all the same quantity of gore and such as outsiders, given them a conflict of their own might have been a better choice. I don't watch films to see new and supposedly fun ways of deaths. I don't watch movies to see repeat performances. Cube Zero was not half bad, but, the way as it was made, as a final product, pointless and most of the time boring.
Fails to improve
posted on 16 Jan 2009I wasn't really fond of the first "Cube" movie. It was a good idea, but the annoying acting and characters always kept me from liking it too much. Didn't really feel the need to see its sequel but when I heard they were making a third movie that would act as more of a prequel to the original. I was intrigued, thinking that maybe they would fix some of the original's problems and provide us with a memorable cast of characters. Well I thought wrong."Cube Zero" starts well enough by introducing us with the two characters in charge of watching and maintaining the never-ending maze of traps that plagues the people in the Cube. The filmmakers succeed in providing a sense of mystery with the establishment of the two men's daily routine. Several questions are created from it, concerning the reason why people are send there and also the true nature of the ones who run the entire operation. All of which are left entirely to the viewer. The acting was a bit weak but all in all the movie's first half moved relatively well.With the story moving on, one of the two "watchers" begins to develop serious doubts about what he is doing. And later decides to go and help a group of the people trapped. Here is where everything rapidly starts to dissolve into dull cheese.Sent by the people who run the Cube program we are introduced to the character "Jax". Along with his two underlings play a major reason as to why this movie is failure. To start of "Jax" looks and talks more like a third rate villain taken directly from a James Bond movie complete with the ever "popular" glass eye, that alone ruins any atmosphere created by the first half's relatively nice pace. Whats more is that it begins to feel more like a comedy rather than a serious movie. With some incredibly corny lines, perhaps the screenwriter got bored and didn't care. The acting itself degrades to a further low when the former "watcher" meets the group in the Cube. The entire interaction is painful to watch as is everything else following it.Again failing to impress on anything but weak characters, dialog and acting "Cube Zero" is a waste of time for those searching for a good horror movie.
this is by far one off the worst movies i've ever seen!
posted on 10 Jan 2009the only thing that frequently pops into my head while i'm writing this review is,i'll never get that hour and a half back!!! to indicate that i'm not just blowing air, i'll compare the movie to the other movies of the cube trilogy(cube and hypercube)!cube wasn't great but it was original and that made up for some technical flaws!hypercube as a sequel lost the advantage of originality but it came out looking pretty sharp and i even liked it beter than cube(the story was better)! but cube zero in comparison to it's predecessors really isn't worth sh*t!a complete lack of good fx, a very f*ck*d up script and just plain old bad acting don't combine well! example:all of the time during the movie i was thinking it would be incredibly stupid if ... should happen and then it would happen, so it's not very original neither! my advice: don't lose that hour and a half i lost!!!!!!!! oh and i hope this movie crashes and burns!!!!!!!
Do you believe in the Cube?
posted on 08 Jan 2009Considering the pure storyline brilliance of the first Cube film, Cube Zero might be thought of as a rather cheap follow up to it (ignoring Hypercube aka Cube2).However, there are a few other things to consider, whilst it does answer some questions that some people may not want answered, it still leaves the view with the classic Cube mystic of still not knowing everything. It puts the audience into the position of those inside the Cube, we think we know whats going on, but we really don't. This is the brilliance of Cube, whilst the first film was amazing, it still lacked a little more storyline, this though was brought up by the audiences imagination, so the bigger your imagination, the more of an impact Cube would have had on you. Cube Zero simple fills in enough of the gaps to make us believe we understand the world of Cube, whilst leaving out enough for us to still not full understand.Great acting helps back this up, with some very real performances. Whilst it may have been lacking in some very well thought out or new traps, it still has more than Hypercube (which in my opinion, was lacking in any good traps).Overall, not as good as Cube because of its lack in overall mystic, but still far better than Hypercube for its overall superb acting and great storyline.
One of the best movies ever made
posted on 21 Nov 2008The story continues with more people stuck in a Cube-like prison, but is that all? No. We actually learn that there are workers watching the prisoners in the Cube. Until one of the workers realize that there is an innocent woman stuck in the Cube. Will he stay on the evil side or will he join the good side with the prisoners? Cube was one of the most intelligent thrillers ever made, with interesting characters, awesome gore and well crafted suspense. I gave that a 10. Cube 2 was nothing. It takes a good premise (eight strangers stuck in a hypercube) but adds this alternate universe crap, with unoriginal traps, annoying characters, insulting ending and badly done CGI. In fact, too much badly done CGI. I gave that a 3 because that are some good points. The rooms are nice and the music score is not bad, but that doesn't save the movie from becoming total trash. Cube Zero is different. It wants you to ignore Cube 2 and shows you what made the original worked; suspense, good characters, well done effects and awesome gore. There are new traps this time; Acid, wires, a flesh-eating virus, sonic weapon, freezing ice and of course, a room that vaporizes the victim. Now then, the characters are very interesting. For once, you can care for the characters now. You can even feel sad for the victims that are about to die. The main character, Eric Wynn, is awesome. Of course, he's not one of the participants, but rather one of the people who watches the Cube. He has no choice, but to rescue one of the participants of the Cube. Now I heard the character Jax was supposed to be a comedy relief. To me, he was more of a psychopath than a comedy relief, but he did had some funny moments. The direction from first-timer Ernie Barbarash (who wrote and produced Cube 2) got the tone just right. He went back to what worked in the first one and add the old, dark rusty rooms (Hey, I thought the rooms in Cube 2 was alright, but did they think that it would beat the rooms in the original?). Another thing is that instead of CGI gore, the make-up for gore effects is back. I'm glad he went back to the make-up basics instead of crappy CGI. His story was cool as well. As you can see, Ernie is the writer here. No one else, but him. I love the way he explained the Cube mythology. He should make more movies in the future because this film proved that he is a good filmmaker. Overall, I had a great time watching this. It was a fantastic effort to the Cube mythology and I hope to see more in the future. But also, I can't wait til they explain about the building of the Cube.Acting: 9/10: Zachary Bennett (Eric) does a great job as the main character with a nice touch of realism. Stephanie Moore (Rains) did a fine job here. She may not be the next Leaven, but she's still awesome to me. David Hubband (Dodd) was another winner, with his good character and a fine performance.Gore Factor: 10/10: WHOAH!!! This was gorier than 'Dawn of the Dead' and 'The Devil's Rejects' put together. Another f#cking winner.T&A: 0/10: None, but it didn't need any.Direction: 10/10: Ernie Barbarash did a great job here with a fascinating storyline, well-crafted suspense, a few good scares and adding lots of awesome gore. I love it.Bottom Line: Fans of the first Cube, this is the movie you've been waiting for. The movie that explains it all. It may be more questions than answers, but this is what Cube is about; Mystery solving, how the Cube works. Now I know this comment may not be useful, but this is how the movie was supposed to be; a well crafted experience of the first Cube, an extremely intelligent movie instead of CGI filled crap. But you'll probably find is not useful because, obviously, you like Cube 2 more than the first and this movie. Now on to the end comment of the movie. A well done prequel that succeeds the first and ignoring the second. Bring on Cube: Trespassed.10/10
Almost as good as the original
posted on 22 Oct 2008So you know where I'm coming from: I gave the original Cube 8 stars, Hypercube 4 stars, and Cube Zero, as you can see, 7 stars. I felt it was just short of being great, mostly for logistical reasons. However, the make-up and CG effects were generally top-notch, especially considering the budget constraints.In true Cube fashion, it raised more questions than it answered. Sometimes that worked effectively, sometimes not. Generally, I found it satisfying when they chose to reveal information that gave us a concrete explanation, rather than just fodder for hypothesis. But there were moments when just the fodder worked brilliantly, such as the scenes which revealed information that was relevant to the original film, causing us to rethink some things we had already drawn conclusions about, even if those conclusions were never actually corroborated. I also liked the way it expanded on ideas from the original (such as how someone who worked on the Cube(s) in some way could end up inside one of them). It also makes me wonder how it would be perceived by someone seeing this film first, then the original (skipping Hypercube altogether). Spoiler: Okay, after reading other reviews I realize that some people have misinferred the ending. The character Wynn is NOT the same as the character Kazan from the first movie. It's not a case of a different actor playing the same role. The two characters share a nearly identical trajectory. We see part two of that in the first film (with no hint of what part one might have been, which is what's revealed here, in Cube Zero). We also have new food for thought as to what the ultimate fate of these two characters might, or might not, be. Watch both films and think about it.
"Do you believe in God?"
posted on 14 Oct 2008Cube Zero, taking a cue from the original, is a film that starts off with a bang. It's one of the more gruesome openings I've seen in a while. Very impressive. Gorehounds will be glad to know there are a few scenes including some good old school nastiness; not much CG and that's a good thing. I'm also glad they cut out the all-too-clean look of Cube 2 and went with more natural looking sets. It makes sense as well since this is supposed to be a prequel. This time, we have the usual band of people stuck in the cube and we also have some observers watching the people stuck in the cube. It makes for some intriguing scenarios but expands too far on ideas left open in the brilliant original. Also, where Cube Zero really fails for me is when it takes us outside of the cube. Cube works so well because you know nothing about the cube itself. You don't know who built it, what purpose it serves, why the people are trapped inside it, or how they got there. You find out a bit too much in this film, and I think I will choose to ignore it all and use my own imagination when it comes to the first film. While Cube Zero is light years beyond the coolness of Cube 2, it doesn't live up to the first film in the series. I do believe the first Cube is one film that should have been left sequel-less. The ending of Cube Zero leaves many thoughts in the viewer's head about the fate of a certain character from the original, both before and after the cube. That was a nice touch and another reason why it was superior to Cube 2.
Excellent
posted on 10 Oct 2008This film is good fun to watch. Nobody could expect a sequel to live up to the original, especially one that's been hyped so much, but it's a very enjoyable effort. This is what Cube 2 should have been.In the first movie, we found that the cubes moved, and the coordinate system allowed the victims to detect traps, and plot their escape. It wouldn't be effective to simply repeat the events of the first movie, so these are dealt with fairly quickly.It was interesting to go outside the cube, and the director got it just right by concentrating on some of the lowest employees, who themselves seem trapped in a box with no way out. Some of the characters are more interesting than others, but the same was true of the first movie.The only parts that let the movie down are the "futuristic" elements, like the dream-recording. Luckily, these don't form the bigger part of the picture and can be mostly ignored.REAL fans of the first film should watch this, because they'll probably enjoy it. The amateur armchair film critics that like to over analyse everything should probably stay away. You should go and watch something "deep" that you can make a presentation to your college film club about.
Diluted sequel
posted on 21 Aug 2008Another cube, another set of Canadian actors trying to get oot. The idea of an insider who knows how the cube works deliberately entering to embark on a rescue mission and pitted against its operator does, I'll admit, sound promising. Of course the movie isn't good enough to do anything with the idea, so it's all about cluelessly demystifying the series' concept as if the beauty of the original film wasn't its mysterious, enigmatic quality. The scenes in the tech room are filler, explaining things that don't need explaining, and the gory traps are filler, because we don't spend enough time in the cube to care, so we end up with a film that's all filler. It doesn't help that Michael Riley 'steals the show' with a wholly dire performance, or that early scenes are full of dead air. Good sets, though.
Very disappointing
posted on 03 Aug 2008Pretty disappointing prequel to the first two films, it's got none of the suspense of the first nor the interest of the second. By concentrating on the guys who 'run' the cube, it basically takes away any of the sense of tension inside the cube, as we simply don't care about the characters inside. Much of the film is simply boring, and it only becomes truly terrible with the introduction of the glass-eyed superior and the green-eyed crazy marine. After that, though, it just descends into over-the-top unintentional hilarity. The ending is fitting though, tying it back into the first one in an indirect way. The script is terrible, the acting mediocre at best, and the direction unimpressive. A much lesser follow-up.
The perfect way to conclude a unique trilogy! UNMISSABLE!
posted on 01 Aug 2008After watching the original Cube 2: Hypersonic, i considered there to be a link between the films in a certain in direct way but just had no real link.Watching The Cube Zero, the prequel, brings everything together. The mysteries that are not concluded in the first and second film is the main subject for this film, which focuses on how the cube works and is maintained! Don't worry though, it still focuses on the participants of the Cube and there adventure to get out, but due to being able to see how it works as its happening reveals more than you think.Fantastic film, and includes gore and traps which I believe the second one missed out on! This is a MUST SEE!!! You will NOT be disappointed, but make sure you see the first and second film also to get the full entertainment out of this! Enjoy.
"Zero" is right...
posted on 25 Jun 2009The original "Cube" is a fantastic B-movie rich with paranoia, meaty characterization, and fine over-the-top performances. It's creepy, cryptic, and cool. And it stands perfectly well, on its own, without a stupid sequel like "Cube Zero." This third (!) film in the Cube series is part retread (most of the booby traps are sadly recycled), part aberration. It takes the bold step of explaining what the cube is - something that was never revealed in the first movie - but, since said explanation is bland, I'd rather it was kept a secret. There are some potentially interesting references to the society that exists outside of the cube, but they never develop beyond hints about some kind of political-religious totalitarian state. So, what little social commentary there is feels flat and unfocused.What works? Basically nothing. The acting is purely amateur hour, the pacing is slow (how much of this movie consists of two nerds watching a screen?), and the gore effects, while revolting, fail to convince. In short, "Cube Zero" reminded me of a "Cube" fan-fic, a sloppy and sophomoric clone of a good movie that definitely did not need a sequel.