"Cube Zero" (2004) Review

Taking place before the original film, "Cube Zero" follows a worker who watches over the unfortunate participants inside the cube. When a woman whom he recognizes appears in the cube, he becomes determined to find a way to save her. "Cube Zero" takes a different perspective on things, and manages to emerge as a mildly entertaining film. Let's take a look and see its fresh ideas are able to keep the viewer interested.

Released in 2004, "Cube Zero" is the prequel to 1997's "Cube." Written and directed by Ernie Barbarash, this film attempts to fill in the gaps left empty in the first movie--it's a so-so attempt, but a commendable one. Of the three films, "Cube Zero" lands in second place just below the initial "Cube."

Starring Zachary Bennett (Wynn), David Huband (Dodd), Stephanie Moore (Cassandra Rains), Martin Roach (Haskell), Terri Hawkes (Jellico), and Michael Riley (Jax), "Cube Zero" actually has an alright cast with characters! The screenwriter actually figured out that characters need some dimension to them! The cast isn't amazing, but at least the suspense of "Cube" is back.

The main character, Wynn, is likable enough with coming off as annoying, and his counterpart, Dodd plays off of him well. Rains, Haskell, and Jellico have more conventional roles, but there's more mystery behind them. The weirdest character is Jax, who's sort of a James Bond type of villain. At first, he comes off as being cheesy, but by the end, he's quite entertaining. 

I have to give credit to Ernie Barbarash, who wrote and directed this film. This is a standalone story with nice twists and enough action sequences to move the film along at a fast pace. That's a big thing that was missing from "Cube 2." Moreover, it seems the filmmakers allocated their budget well this time around, the sets are reminiscent of the original, and the traps are very grotesque--that's good! The special effects in the movie actually worked out nicely! 

Sure there's some bad "dream state" visual elements--there's fuzzy lens effects used, but the overall VFX in the film actually look a lot better than both of the previous "Cube" movies. It feels like a higher-end SyFy Channel film with a decent script.

I'd say give "Cube Zero" a watch if you enjoyed the first one. It's definitely not Oscar-worthy or anything, but for a sci-fi thriller fan, it's worth a watch.

It's on NetFlix right now! 

The Good

• Solid story with some surprises
• Good cast with depth
• Cool and fun traps!

The Bad

• Poor VFX for some shots
• Cheesy main villain
• Lazy tie-in to the first "Cube"

"Cube 2: Hypercube" (2002) Review

In the sequel to the original "Cube," 8 strangers wake up confused in a cube without any idea of why they're there. This sounds really familiar... Let me guess, they have to find a way out before it's too late?... Yes! That's exactly it! But wait! They're not trapped in a normal cube, this time it's a HYPERcube. Essentially what that means is, it's a cube with no logic or rules. Parallel universes exist, time and gravity shifts upon entering different rooms--nothing makes sense. That's what's wrong with "Cube 2" it makes absolutely no sense. 

"Cube 2: Hypercube" is a 2002 film written by Sean Hood, Ernie Barbarash, and Lauren McLaughlin and directed by Andrzej Sekula. Sadly, this sequel misses the mark and rehashes the premise of the original film while fumbling through some flimsy new ideas. So does "Cube 2" measure up to the first movie? I think you can tell which way I'm leaning, but let's see!

Starring Kari Matchett (Kate), Grace Lynn Kung (Sasha), Neil Crone (Jerry), Matthew Ferguson (Max), Barbara Gordon (Mrs. Paley), Geraint Wyn Davies (Simon) and Lindsey Connell (Julia), "Cube 2: Hypercube" fails to create a cast that brings something new to the table. Unfortunately, the characters in this film are either typical (Simon), bland (Kate, the main character!) or just plain annoying (Mrs. Paley). While the first film was able to maintain a good amount of tension with a small cast, "Cube 2" features none of the suspense of the original.  

What hurts this sequel so much is the overall story. It seems like the writers were being too ambitious on a low budget, and had to wrap things up abruptly--the story feels unfinished. The acting isn't great, but it wasn't great in the first film either. It's frustrating to me that the mysterious look of the original has been replaced by a sterile and boring aesthetic. Everything looks the same this time around--it's enough to drive the viewer crazy!

From a technical aspect, I suppose the director did an okay job, but some of his shots have some bad framing issues--there's some random closeups. For some reason, there's slow-mo shots and weird grainy effects used which takes the viewer out of the film. 

I think it was a combination of poor screenwriting, sub par acting, boring set design, and lame visual effects that damage "Cube 2" severely.

Did I mention how lackluster the traps in this one?! What a letdown! They don't even show up until almost half way through the movie, and they suck! Yeah, the idea of parallel universes is kind of cool, but at least make the traps interesting.

As you can tell, I was disappointed with "Cube 2: Hypercube." If you enjoyed the first film even a little bit, I would still steer clear of this one.

It's on NetFlix right now, which is right where it belongs! 

The Good-

• Some interesting concepts are introduced

The Bad-

• Lazy screenwriting and story
• Bland and annoying characters
• Lousy visual effects 
• Poor set design

"Cube" (1997) Review

A group of 6 strangers find themselves trapped in a maze of cubes without any reason as to why they have been placed there. In a race against time, they must work together to find their way out before it's too late. 

"Cube" is a 1997 sci-fi thriller film written by Andre Bijelic, Graeme Mason, and Vicenzo Natali, and also directed by Vicenzo Natali. This film was a rental I remember bringing home from the video store way back in the day. "Cube" is an independent film with a humble budget, but its strength lies within its concept and wanting to know what will happen next. How does "Cube" stack up amongst the other thrillers out there? Let's find out!

Starring Maurice Dean Wint (Quentin), Nicole de Boer (Leaven), David Hewlett (Worth), Andrew Miller (Kazan), Nicky Guadagni (Holloway), Wayne Robson (Rennes), and finally Julian Richings (Alderson), "Cube" really relies on its characters to carry the film. Without a large budget, and only a few special effect-filled scenes, without a tight cast, "Cube" would fail miserably. Fortunately, the ensemble cast of characters does a good job at keeping the viewer guessing.

There aren't really many stand-out actors in "Cube," but overall the acting isn't terrible as compared with other low budget features. That's not to say that there isn't some overacting occasionally--all things considered, that's acceptable. The writers managed to set up enough twists and turns in the script to keep the tension up, and that's also another strong point of the film.

"Cube" is a sort of predecessor to "Saw" in some ways, in that the rooms of the cube are sometimes trapped. The traps vary from acid spraying, flame throwing, and also really cool sharp objects to slice up the unwitting victim who steps in. Those scenes are well done, and the visual effects are pretty decent for the film's small budget. It's quite amazing what the filmmakers were able to pull off with just a set of four walls. 

On the more technical side of things, the director succeeds at ramping up the suspense and creating a claustrophobic feel to the film. I would say the editing is acceptable, but nothing too special. There were a few scenes that left some action out that probably should have been left in. Otherwise though, "Cube"'s directing and editing are quite good for an independent movie. 

It's a lesser-known thriller that I think should have gotten more attention upon its release. This is how low budget films should be done. 

If you're into sci-fi thrillers, I would suggest checking this one out! It's on NetFlix right now! 😎

The Good-

• Strong suspense and twists
• Capable cast of characters
• Cool traps
• Good use of budget  

The Bad-

• Some overacting (not much though!)
• The editing is a bit off, but not too bad

Forgive the lack of photos--I don't want to spoil it for you!