Labyrinth Within (2010) Movie Review

What makes a foreign film not so foreign ? How about when it has no dialogue at all ? That is what we have the the short film Labyrinth Within.

Labyrinth Within (IMDB) (Amazon)

Labyrinth Within movie poster

A short film with no dialogue. Chances are that is enough to know if you would like this film personally or not. I could speak to the extensive dance sequences in a ballet style and the classical music score that is excellent IMO but even without knowing those things the first line told you if you wanted to see this or not. I could add that there are 3 characters and it is about jealousy - because that is what I read.

Now, if you search for this movie there is a good chance you will be directed to the David Bowie song Within You from the movie Labyrinth, so if you want to take some time and click on the link - - I’ll wait for you. Of course the best part of that is his hair with the MS Escher - Relativity inspired room a close second. Did I get off track ? Labyrinth Within is a ballet short. Not for me, but maybe you’ll like it ?

Here is a link to watch the trailer:

Eye in the Labyrinth (1972) Movie Review

It’s time to review another maze/labyrinth movie ! This one is a standard low budget horror film from Italy called L'occhio nel labirinto or Eye in the Labyrinth.

Eye in the Labyrinth (IMDB) (Amazon)

Eye in the Labyrinth movie poster

Nothing like an Italian film dubbed into English where the voice doesn’t match the person speaking ! This isn’t an old Japanese film where things get really wild when a character speaks but the version I watched was dubbed instead of subtitled and this did change the presentation of the film.

The film starts with a man being chased in what appears to be an underground concrete structure. Things do not end well for him. Part of me wanted to say SPOILER before that, but if something happens in the first minutes of a film to set-up the entire premise what are you really spoiling ? OK, on to the main part of the film - A woman ends up trying to find her missing lover, the psychiatrist we saw being chased in the first scene. Because if a person is missing there is one rule movies are famous for and that is DO NOT go to the police. The best thing to do is clearly to start your own investigation, because movies. I can’t tell you how many important investigations my friends and I have started throughout the years. Except we didn’t call them investigations we called them capers. So many stories.

Side note, the opening title card states “A labyrinth is constructed to confuse the human mind. It's architecture rich in symmetry, is subordinated to that result. - José Luís Borges”. And that’s the last of the maze/labyrinth references although there is plenty of confusion in the movie which may remind you of solving a maze.

Back to the movie. It is well directed, has good acting and nice camera work in some very nice settings (across Tuscany, Italy). But this is a mystery thriller that never felt tense. I felt bored watching it and that is a problem for a thriller. Say this is on tv and you are watching it and someone says ‘hey we need to leave’, you would not protest at all, just turn off the tv and go never caring what happened to the characters. I give it a boring, but well made 6/10.

Here is the trailer:

Haunted Maze (2017) Movie Review

It’s time to review another Maze movie ! This one is a standard low budget horror film. Let’s get to it !

Haunted Maze (IMDB) (Amazon)

Haunted Maze movie poster

Clowns are scary. Unless they are in a movie that features bad acting a weak script and a low budget. Then clowns become a different kind of scary.

A group of friends enter a Halloween maze run by traveling carnies somewhere in a small town in the Midwest. I feel like we have seen this before. Seems similar to The Funhouse Massacre that I reviewed previously. And it is, kind of, except without Robert Englund and much much worse acting. The story also takes place with a story structure that involves 2 police detectives interviewing Clancy the Clown who insists on rhyming everything he says. I would rate this a 2/10 with a strong avoid.

Here is the trailer:

The Labyrinth (1971) Movie Review

Not to be confused with David Bowie and that sweet hair from Labyrinth. This is the animated story of the Greek myth of the labyrinth done by Russian animators.

The Labyrinth (IMDB)

The Labyrinth 1971 movie poster

This is the story of Theseus and his attempt to kill the Minotaur in the maze in Crete.

It’s odd watching Greek characters speak Russian even if you are reading the subtitles. The animation is not Pixar or Disney, but I’m not sure what to expect from 1971. It’s not Hanna Barbara either. If you want a quick 20 minute version of the story….I guess it is ok, but only if your queue is empty. The real highlight comes at the 8:00 mark while on the ship to Crete a Bollywood-like dance number breaks out ? Because ? So awkward. 5/10

Here is a link to watch the subtitled version on YouTube: (Sadly this video has been taken down :() )

If you like this story I suggest you check out my Maze Comic Book Reviews - Theseus and the Minotaur that reviews 4 different comic book versions of the story !