Skip to main content

Cube (1997)

Six strangers are put in a Cube within another larger cube and all these cubes are filled with traps. Without knowing how they got there or who put them there, they all try to escape using...math.

From the director of Splice, Vincenzo Natali, takes a step in a weird direction with this film. It was almost as if the producers at the time were just going with whatever. It's hard to get performances out of anyone in a single location film. The cubes are interesting enough with the shapes and whatnot, as well as the traps that appear in rooms with prime numbers. For whatever reason.

Nicole de Boer plays the main character, Leaven, but you don't know that she's the main character till later. She's good at math, pretty, and in school. I think the director challenged her to become the next Sigourney Weaver, but I doubt there was an intention for a sequel to the film. You might recognize her from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as Lieutenant Ezri Dax. Her character claims in the movie that finding out if three digit numbers are prime is astronomical in terms of the amount of math you'd have to do. This is false.

Maurice Dean Wint plays what would best be described as the antagonist of the film if you don't consider the cube itself an antagonist. He does a pretty convincing accent but his performance is best described as overacting. He hasn't been in any major film since, at least so far as I know.

The film has an unsatisfying ending and doesn't leave you wanting more, but instead leaves you disappointed that the answer that the film begged you to ask was never answered.

Result: C- (Some of the characters are poorly written, and both the film and the character actions are predictable.)

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Housemaid (2025)

The Housemaid (2025) is directed by Paul Feig , best known for comedies like Bridesmaids and Freaks and Geeks , and the tonal clash is noticeable. Feig leans into slick presentation and surface-level tension, but the film never quite reconciles its thriller ambitions with its obvious messaging. As an adaptation, it feels safer and more predictable than it wants to be, especially given how clearly it telegraphs its twists. Sydney Sweeney , known for Euphoria and Anyone But You , plays a down-on-her-luck woman recently out on parole who is desperate for work. She does what she can with the role and brings some emotional weight early on, but the writing limits her range. Her character cycles through bashful and annoyed so often that it starts to feel repetitive rather than psychologically layered. Amanda Seyfried , recognizable from Mamma Mia! and Mean Girls , plays the wealthy woman whose life slowly unravels as the power dynamic flips. Seyfried is solid and more controlled than Sw...

Marty Supreme (2025)

Marty Supreme (2025) is written and directed by Josh Safdie , who previously directed Good Time and Uncut Gems . This film carries that same frantic Safdie energy, with constant motion and pressure that rarely lets the audience breathe. It is chaotic by design, sometimes to a fault, but the intensity feels intentional rather than sloppy. Even when the pacing threatens to overwhelm, the film remains compelling due to the strength of its performances. Timothée Chalamet , known for Dune and Call Me by Your Name , plays the title role and fits it perfectly. He fully commits to the character’s ambition and volatility, balancing confidence with insecurity in a way that feels natural for him at this stage of his career. This is not a transformative performance, but it is a highly effective one, and he clearly understands the rhythm and demands of a Safdie-style film. Odessa A’zion , who audiences may recognize from Grand Army and Hellraiser (2022) , is a standout as the love interest. S...

Anaconda (2025)

Anaconda (2025) is a reboot comedy of the 90s film, written and directed by Tom Gormican , who previously delivered the clever and self-aware The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent . Unfortunately, that lightning does not strike twice. The core problem is simple. The jokes do not land. If horror films are judged by scares per minute, then comedies should be judged by laughs per minute, and this one delivers virtually none. Any humor that works was already burned in the trailer, leaving the film feeling empty and painfully drawn out. Jack Black , known for School of Rock and Jumanji , leans heavily into his loud, chaotic persona, but here it becomes grating rather than charming. His performance feels unchecked and repetitive, as if volume alone is meant to substitute for comedy. Instead of elevating scenes, he often drains them of momentum. Paul Rudd , who audiences know from Ant-Man and I Love You, Man , somehow comes off just as irritating. Rudd is usually likable even in weak m...