It is painfully obvious that this is an attempt to create a cube movie. The writers did their homework on movies like the for-mentioned cube, my little eye and basically every other movie that has a bunch of people in a confined space together. This European attempt to add yet another flick to this sub genre falls short on almost every level.
Like I said before in other reviews one of the basics to get any viewer involved is to flesh the characters given in the movie. If they stand shallow no one cares who dies and who lives. If you secretly try to rip other movies off at least try to keep either the gore or the excitement of the originals on par or top it in the gore department. If you don't you will get the equivalent of a tasteless fast food treat; it fills but it is nothing special.
Spoilers ahead:
This movie starts promising though, while following the beaten track of the in this case 9 strangers put together the makers produce a classy setting. A cemented shut building with only 1 door. This setting is made very well, shot on location in Romania it provides stylish furniture, marble floors.. all black and white. The first few moments after the unseen watcher has delivered his message "9 go in one comes out with 5 million dollars" are the best of the film. The victims try franticly to escape which gives the movie its few engaging moments. However after 15 minutes they give up and the makers have got some padding to do. This amounts in nothing happening the next hour or so and then the makers suddenly realize there are still around 8 people left that have to go..this proves to be a bit steep in the remaining 24 minutes or so. Especially since there are no traps inside the location but only the uninteresting people to work with.
The premise is good, people cant get out except if they kill the others but since the moron level is so high you couldn't care less after watching people rap(not kidding.. it is the token black guy in a training suit and gold chains), dance, drink and eat for an hour. The ending is nice ish but predictable.
They should have credited the accent of poor Dennis Hopper as an extra, it comes and goes and provides the only source of entertainment for most of the movie.
Skippable fare.
Like I said before in other reviews one of the basics to get any viewer involved is to flesh the characters given in the movie. If they stand shallow no one cares who dies and who lives. If you secretly try to rip other movies off at least try to keep either the gore or the excitement of the originals on par or top it in the gore department. If you don't you will get the equivalent of a tasteless fast food treat; it fills but it is nothing special.
Spoilers ahead:
This movie starts promising though, while following the beaten track of the in this case 9 strangers put together the makers produce a classy setting. A cemented shut building with only 1 door. This setting is made very well, shot on location in Romania it provides stylish furniture, marble floors.. all black and white. The first few moments after the unseen watcher has delivered his message "9 go in one comes out with 5 million dollars" are the best of the film. The victims try franticly to escape which gives the movie its few engaging moments. However after 15 minutes they give up and the makers have got some padding to do. This amounts in nothing happening the next hour or so and then the makers suddenly realize there are still around 8 people left that have to go..this proves to be a bit steep in the remaining 24 minutes or so. Especially since there are no traps inside the location but only the uninteresting people to work with.
The premise is good, people cant get out except if they kill the others but since the moron level is so high you couldn't care less after watching people rap(not kidding.. it is the token black guy in a training suit and gold chains), dance, drink and eat for an hour. The ending is nice ish but predictable.
They should have credited the accent of poor Dennis Hopper as an extra, it comes and goes and provides the only source of entertainment for most of the movie.
Skippable fare.