Exit (2011) Movie Review

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

Exit (2011) (IMDB)

Exit (2011) 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. I also want to mention that the design of the movie poster is excellent. It seems like posters are all derivative of one another, but this poster looks different to me. I like the idea that the exit could be up through the skyscrapers. It’s a nice twist on the search for a door.

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. The movie trailer gives a very good representation of this in my opinion. 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 !!!!

Of all of the movies that I have reviewed this one seems to have the most consistent range of reviews. You can find people all across the board rating this movie from 1 to 10/10. If you are someone who works in a large city in an office you will relate to the “escape from the rat race vibes” this movie gives off. This is a movie that gives you a framework to think about. If you like action and answers you are in the wrong place. This film will not give you clarity if that is what you are looking for. If you want action maze movies I suggest Cube (1997) or The Maze Runner (2014).

I give it a 6.2/10. It is worth watching if you like sci-fi movies and you can find it. Good news ! At time of this writing the movie is on YouTube ! I suggest watching this on a weekday after work when it is raining to set the appropriate mood.

Iteration 1 (2016) Movie Review

Today we dive into another maze-ish related short film from 2016, Iteration 1, directed by Jesse Lupini.

Iteration 1 (2016) (IMDB)

Iteration 1 (2016) movie poster

Here is the premise of the short film Iteration 1 : A woman (played by Katharine Isabelle who you might know from Ginger Snaps) wakes up in a bed in the middle of a well-lit white room with black grids on the walls. She has 60 seconds to, well, after 60 seconds she collapses and everything resets. Her goal, although never stated is to find a way out of the place she is in (which is about as specific as I can get because it isn’t really clear except this place is maze-like). Each time she awakens a voice declares the Iteration # she is on. This feels like a time travel/groundhog day movie where our character needs to learn from their mistakes to move forward in the time loop. And it happens after just 60 seconds in this Iteration so things are sped up.

The film is weird with little dialogue but actually fun to watch. You’ll find yourself talking to the woman and giving her suggestions based on what you might do in this situation, like, hey, maybe try this (or that). Definitely worth a viewing ! I give it a 7/10 and suggest you invest the 14 minutes you will need to watch this film.

Bonus points to the designer of the poster who used a labyrinth for the “O” in Iteration but made it off center so it looks something like a thumb print. Is this a clue ? Here is a close-up of the design in higher resolution.

Iteration O labyrinth

The best part about short films is you can often watch them for free on YouTube !! Check it out:

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. I have to say that does seem like fun (with a guide, during the day, with water, snacks, and dressed appropriately). So how is this horror movie and should you see it ?

The Depraved (2011) (IMDB)

The Depraved (2011) movie poster
Urban Explorer (2011) 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. As far as a movie set-up goes, other than some bad decisions we have a strong concept to work with. 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”. There is typically a place to stream this movie for free that includes the subtitles if you need them, but most of the movie is in English. So how is the movie ? Terrible. 4/10. I will say that the ratings and reviews on this movie are closer to 5/10 on sites like IMDB (currently rated at 5.2) and it was not a bad enough movie to make my list of the 10 Unbelievably Bad Maze Movies to Never, Ever Watch.

The original title of the film was Urban Explorer and it can still be found on some sites under this name. Sadly the title change does not change the movie. Oddly, the movie does have multiple award wins, including 4 from Screamfest in 2011.

Here is a trailer to get you pumped to NOT see this ! Or watch it. You do you.

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 (2011) (IMDB)

Foxes (2011) movie poster

This is actually 2 different reviews based on one piece of information that only you know - Have you seen the film 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 !