Exit (2011) Movie Review

Today we dive into another maze related movie review, the 2011 Australian TV Movie Exit.

Exit (IMDB) (Amazon)

Exit movie poster

Here is the premise of Exit: groups of people wander around a city looking for a door that leads to an exit to another place, out of the maze of the city. They aren’t sure what this new place is or what it is like but they become obsessed with finding the door and getting there. Cool concept.

The best part about this movie by far is the cinematography with excellent sweeping views of the city landscape really capturing the essence of the place. It feels industrial and very much like a city of large grey buildings. The music also fits well and creates the appropriate mood.

The pace of the movie is a bit slow. I think that is because beyond long sections of dialogue, not much is really happening. Things are mysterious, but they never feel very tense or urgent. I think with a few tweaks this could have been a really good movie. Instead it’s average for what it is, a low budget sci-fi movie. A big budget remake with some action, a compelling dark antagonist, and a Dan Brown type puzzle unfolding makes this a big success. All you need is a couple million and Dan Brown to help with the script, that should be easy !!!!

I give it a 6.2/10.

The Depraved (2011) Movie Review

A group of people are led into the vast Berlin underground thru a secret entrance in a club by a local guide. That is the set-up for the movie The Depraved, so how is this horror movie and should you see it ?

The Depraved (IMDB) (Amazon)

The Depraved movie poster

If you are going to get lost in a maze-like space it’s always a good idea to make sure it is dark, damp, underground, and full of trash, rats and bugs. Because, naturally that makes for a better horror movie. Now if you are scoring at home, that is worth about 2 points (out of 10). Without getting into specifics about the plot there becomes a reason why the group needs to split up, because that is always a good idea in a horror movie that NEVER leads to any complications, EVER.

Now one thing about the version I watched was that the parts in German where not subtitled, but in a horror movie the context is enough to understand what is happening. There are a few versions on YouTube in other languages where you will not understand the German. I don’t think it hindered the “plot”. So how is the movie ? Terrible. 4/10.

Here is a trailer to get you pumped to NOT see this !

Andron (2015) Movie Review

What happens when you combine elements from Cube, The Matrix, The Maze Runner, and The Hunger Games into one movie? Do you get the greatest film of all time ? Let’s find out. I also want to mention that I found 2 different versions of the movie poster. One with Alec Baldwin and one without. Which do you prefer ?

Did it make my list of The 10 Best Maze Themed Movie Posters ?

Andron (IMDB) (Amazon)

Andron movie poster
Andron Movie poster

Also known as Andron: The Black Labyrinth the film starts with people awakening in an unknown place without any memory of why they are there (Cube). The place is very dark and industrial and set-up in a very confusing maze like fashion (The Maze Runner). Slowly they group (called contenders) finds out that only 1 of them can escape the maze and win their freedom (The Hunger Games). The game is controlled by evil corporations in the future and they are connected into a neural network (The Matrix). So then, this IS the greatest movie you have never seen right ?

No

It’s terrible. With bad effects, numerous plot holes, bad acting and really no character that you want to cheer for or against. The Bad guys go down like Storm troopers in outfits made by your aunties crafting group. The special effects give special a bad name. AVOID. 3/10.

Foxes (2011) Movie Review

I seem to be on a movie kick lately. There have been some great maze movies and there have been some terrible ones, umm…. The Funhouse Massacre, The Maze and Mazes and Monsters . So how is the short film Foxes ? Have you seen Vivarium ? That is important to understand this review.

FOXES (IMDB) (Amazon)

Foxes movie poster

This is actually 2 different reviews based on one piece of information that only you know - Have you seen Vivarium starring Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Potts or not ? The movie poster and trailer should help you if you are not sure.

vivarium movie poster

Best movie trailer thumbnail ever ?

Now read the appropriate section !

I have seen Vivarium - Read this

I found this movie when I was researching the movie Vivarium which was based on this short film from the same director, Lorcan Finnegan. So comparisons between the 2 movies make sense, like how this film feels much less maze-like than Vivarium. Remember how the housing complex in Vivarium had a very artificial and plastic look to it, well the housing complex this couple is trapped in has a much more realistic look to it. While the couple in Vivarium has a much more linear timeline, this couple appears to be in a more Groundhog Day type loop of sameness. The wife eventually senses this and tries to break out of the monotony. And there are shrieking foxes. And things are weird. There aren’t a lot of answers in this film but there sure are a lot of questions. It is worth a look (see the video below!).

I have NOT seen Vivarium - Read this

The 2011 short film Foxes is directed by Lorcan Finnegan who later directed the film Vivarium based on this same story. Have you ever been to a planned community in suburbia where every house looks the same and they seem to stretch on forever ? Every street you turn down curves around to another street that looks the same as the last one. You are more likely to meet a roundabout dead end than the main road because the traffic planners did not want to make streets that could be navigated quickly, slowing vehicles down and keeping the local children safe. Those subdivision developments are built on the edges of towns where large amounts of land can be secured and they have names like The Meadows, Canyon Estates and Magnolia Country Lakes. Now you have a sense for the setting of this movie. Now add in a bit of Groundhog Day like daily grind of being that you can get stuck in from the routines we have from going to work each day. And every once in awhile because the subdivision was built on new land you get visited by foxes. Loud foxes. And you begin to question what exactly is really going on. What does this all mean ? You won’t find any answers here, but you will have lots of questions. This is a short film worth watching. I recommend it.

Hey, no need for a trailer, why don’t you just watch the whole thing !!! If you have 16 minutes, I think it is worth your time !