Cube (1997)

You might recall Caitlin recommending this on our sci-fi episode of Some Cast It Hot, which certainly propelled my viewing, so thanks Caitlin! An impressive low-budget debut from writer/director Vincenzo Natali (most recently of Splice fame), Cube throws a group of people with little in common and no connection to one another in an unfathomably large structure filled with multi-colored cube-shaped (heh!) rooms. Each room is potentially laid with lethal, gruesome traps, and there is no sustenance or water provided.

Quentin (Maurice Dean Wint) immediately takes charge as a level-headed cop, but he's often challenged by conspiracy theorist nurse Holloway (Nicky Guadagni). They find use for college student Leaven's (Nicole De Boer) math skills as they attempt to navigate themselves to any kind of exit while avoiding deadly traps. Eventually the questions of "Why are we here? What links us together? What have we done?" are abandoned in favor of sheer survival instincts, and everyone gradually becomes more and more... testy.


With a few well-placed colored walls and a great concept, Natali crafts an intriguing and smart sci-fi thriller that forgoes effects-driven fanfare to delve into the darker side of human nature arising from fear, isolation, and desperation. The evolution of the characters throughout their trek is fascinating and unexpected, as their situation brings out the worst and best of everyone. The performances are pretty good, with Maurice De Wint wholly devoting himself to a multi-layered personality and Nicky Guadagni serving as a nice foil to his testosteroney (but sensible) leadership in the earlier scenes. David Hewlett as the jaded, guilt-ridden office drone Worth was the standout for me, putting in a charismatic and thoughtful performance. Nicole De Boer is a little weak and flat, but I liked her glasses and it's cool when a lady can do math.

The lack of anything super science-fictiony really suits Cube well. Natali places his trust almost solely on the strength of his characters and the compelling mystery surrounding their placement in the cube, and leaving many questions unanswered or unasked just increases the film's ability to captivate. The dialogue can be a little heavy-handed or melodramatic at times, and most of the film is conversation, but the few breaks of sinister metallic traps and surprise violent outbursts keep it interesting. Visually, the minimalist approach and almost alien/Tron-like sets serve to constantly remind us of the overall enigma of the proceedings, but the multiple fade-out montages are a bit silly. While it certainly isn't perfect, Cube is a truly intriguing and imaginative film that generally rises above its low-budget trappings with intelligence and style.

4/5

PS This is SPOILERY so don't say I didn't warn you, but here is something about the movie I found unfortunate: Why did the black guy have to end up the villain? In the beginning, I was like, hey cool here's an in-charge black person who is keeping things sensible for all these wimpy white guys. It seems fairly rare for non-white actors to have major heroic roles in Western science-fiction films, so I was pleased at the change. But then of course it turns out he's a vicious dude with anger problems and a murderous streak, and he's going to chase down all the white heroes. Damn. Character-wise it's a good twist, definitely, and I'm assuming no one was cast according to race, it's just too bad it worked out that way.