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)

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.

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 !

Other Movie posts you may like:

A Collection of Maze and Labyrinth Movies

The 18 Best Maze Movies

Maze Comic Book Cover #105 - Mara-thon

Issue #105 in my comic book cover series is called Mara-thon and features a maze of a Patagonia Mara. This cute rodent becomes our last Comic book cover maze of the year.

My comic book cover mazes can be found in 2 places:

Comic Book Cover Mazes - Year 1 (Issues #1-53)

Comic Book Cover Mazes - Year 2 (Issues 54-105)

To receive a book of my first year of comic book book mazes (Volume 1 with mazes #1-53) you can sign up for my book alerts - any time I launch a free maze book, or paid book (on Amazon), I will send you a note about the new book launch.

Maze of the Week #209 - Lunar Lander Maze

Our last maze of the week for the year takes us back to space (the moon). Introducing Maze of the Week #209 featuring the Lunar Lander Maze. This maze is the sibling of my large Moon Maze, which if you have not seen, I suggest you check out (It is difficult). I have seen the lunar lander at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC, and I must say it did not look sturdy enough to take a trip in (but it worked, so I am wrong). Because of the tight panels the Start is denoted with and S.

Free Maze download is available in the Vehicle Maze section of the site.

Can You Find the Maze Design Mistake ? Part 2

I love making weaving mazes, but they present some challenges for the maze designer in addition to the solver. So much that I made a full post of my mistakes to test your observation skills. Turns out, there are now enough mistakes for a Part 2 !!! Not sure if that should get any exclamation points, but here we are.

If you want to try making this type of maze yourself you can read how I make a Weaving Maze, or the revised, improved weaving maze option. And if you think you would enjoy real, correct weaving mazes to solve like the ones below you can check out multiple books on Amazon. Almost all of these mistakes were part of the editing process and come from the books.

Let’s test your observation skills !

Here are the 2 main types of mistakes I made. A path that ends under another, or one that never comes out from under another.

Examples of mistakes you might find.

Let’s get started with our first maze which looks like a window. I like the design of the weaving maze but, it wouldn’t be here if there wasn’t a problem in the design. Can you find it ? When you are ready, scroll down to get the answer !

Observation Maze #1

Observation Maze #1 Answer.

For me, that was a tough one to find the mistake. If you found the design mistake, great job ! Let’s look at maze #2 and see how you do.

Maze #2 is the most popular shape I use. The shape is great for using for weaving mazes, but again I made a design mistake. Can you find it ? When you are ready, scroll down to get the answer !

Observation Maze #2

Observation Maze #2 Answer.

And now Maze #3. Can you find the design issue with this square wheel weaving maze ?

Observation Maze #3

Observation Maze #3 Answer.

Another path to nowhere…I found that one quickly. maybe because it was in a corner.

Maze #4 is a version of my favorite shape, just with a different start/goal configuration than normal. Can you find the error ? You know what to do.

Observation Maze #4

Observation Maze #4 Answer.

That was a tough one for me. I know the purpose of this post is to test your observation skills, but I just want to mention that this type of maze is really fun to solve (and design IMO). I made a poster size (11x17) weaving maze of a skull that people seem to like. I have a book of these on Amazon also. Try to solve a few of these - just don’t dead end at my mistakes !!

Back to the observation game. How about this fun shape?

Observation Maze #5

Observation Maze #5 Answer

I wish we were done, but I made a lot of mistakes, I’m just glad I caught them and could make them into something interesting (assuming so if you are still here!)

Let’s try this one, an apple weaving maze

Observation Maze #6

Observation Maze #6 Answer

Still more unfortunately.. Try this cloudlike shape. I am not sure what made me design a maze in this shape or maybe more accurately non-shape, but here we are.

Observation Maze #7

Observation Maze #7 Answer

And that does it. My mistakes became a game. I’d like to say this is the last time we do this, but I know it is not ! How did you do ? Would you be interested in more content like this ?

Did you try solving any mazes ? If you like this kind of maze check out these sections:

Weaving Mazes for Kids - Includes 10 mazes on the site with a download for a longer book of 23 mazes.