Cube

Cube

Canada. 1997.

In English.

Directed by Vincenzo Natali 

Starring Nicole de Boer, Nicky Guadagni, David Hewlett, Andrew Miller, Wayne Robson, Maurice Dean Wint

             As a relatively tall person, at times I suffer from claustrophobia. One memorable occasion happened years ago, when I began a long summer road trip in the back of a full fifteen-passenger van. After a mere ten minutes of creeping out of the city in typical July traffic, the air conditioning stalled. The rising heat and the tight quarters began to bleed together swelteringly for me, and I panicked. With a sudden burst I trampled, knees and elbows, over the sweaty people next to me and clawed my way to the front of the van where I remained for the following two weeks of travel.

            If you feel similarly when trapped in close quarters, Cube may send you sprinting away from your TV in a flash. A twisty nail-biter with its fair share of gory surprises, Cube is an A-movie concept on a B-movie budget. SIX…..strangers awaken and discover they’re trapped in a shifting construct of cubic rooms, a random number of which contain deadly traps. Paranoia, blame, and plenty of violence follow as the characters work together…or not…to escape.

Cube is a long-time favorite of mine. Yes, it is extremely low-budget, but the traps are still gruesome and original, and the creators work extremely well with what they have. And yes, the acting isn’t fabulous, but the characters’ detailed back-stories are good compensation. Will we see a Hollywood remake anytime soon? I haven’t heard any rumors, but there are a sequel and a prequel.

For those of you who prefer a more intellectual horror over the crap-syour-pants variety, this one is for you. The producers even hired a mathematician to provide that the numerical concepts presented in the film (Cartesian squares, anyone?), are indeed correct. And aside from the occasional glimpse of gory traps and violence among the characters, the movie isn’t overwhelmingly gross or scary. I give it 2/5 for both gore and violence.

Well, for my part, my body has adapted to the terror produced by tight quarters over the years, mostly by allowing me to fall asleep wherever I am. If you’re a fellow claustrophobe, you’ll have to find your own coping mechanisms, especially after you watch Cube. Good luck!