Friday, March 20, 2009

Cube 2: Hypercube (2002)--2/5

The first cube, from the first "Cube," was a tangible structure, the rooms within all labeled with their coordinates. Escaping the cube required a combination of mental and physical abilities. But it could be done. "Cube" had a goal, an accomplishment, for its characters.

As the title suggests, the cube in "Cube 2: Hypercube" is extra-dimensional. Portals, instead of doors, connect any room to any other, ad infinitum. From room to room, time and gravity can shift.

The portal idea is a good one, leading to some thought-provoking terrors. One psychotic man roams from room to room, killing the same other characters over and over. Each time, he collects the a trinket; by the end of the film, he has a dozen of the same wristwatches and name badges.

It becomes increasingly clear that the cube has No Exit. "Cube 2" is more surreal but less exciting than "Cube." It's a noble attempt at actually doing something new, rather than rehashing the formula with new personalities. But since anything can happen, moving forward with these guys feels pointless.



(This is not from "Cube 2.")

1 comment:

Phil G said...

hypercube.
and that girl in the first cube was really doable.