MY CALL: Let’s be clear, this film owes everything to Cube (1997). But that withstanding, this is an excellent unofficial sequel/spin-off. MORE MOVIES LIKE Meander: Cube (1997) and sequels.
A hitchhiker Lisa (Gaia Weiss; Vikings) catches a ride with the wrong stranger and awakens in a Tron or Running Man jumpsuit, trapped in a high-tech chamber with a light source affixed to her wrist with a timer counting down. The chamber connects to a system of tunnels that feel like being trapped in the ventilation system of a spaceship or some labyrinthine complex a la Cube (1997). Where do the tunnels lead? What happens when the timer counts down to 0:00? Is there anyone else here?
To advance Lisa must crawl though long dark tunnels, squeeze through ever-tighteningly claustrophobic spaces, escape tunnels with crushing trap ceilings a la Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, navigate trap doors and flamethrowing traps (a la The Rock or Galaxy Quest), flooding waters and acid baths, and more deadly obstacles.
Truly, it’s like Lisa is Player 1 in a videogame death maze. Her spelunking brings her to a similarly equipped cadaver of the last “mouse” to run this maze. It’s completely putrid, gooey, slimy, falling apart, and deliciously gross. More developments are uncovered… but I’m not here to spoil it all for you. Let’s just say it involves other meandering maze entities and their motives, some interesting cybernetics, and some answers.
As simple as it was, I really enjoyed this. Tense, well-paced, energized, and occasionally shocking. This was a solid Sci-Fi Thriller Adventure with some good gore to spare! Something for everyone… except for those who want a proper explanation of that’s going on. Those folks will surely be a bit annoyed by the ending. Director and writer Mathieu Turi (The Deep Dark, Hostile) made something pretty great here. And for all it owes to Cube (1997), it spelunks a different corridor by focusing on one person’s story, experience and motivation.