Méandre

Crawl and crawl and crawl

A new French sci-fi mystery where a woman is caught in a series of tunnel with multiple traps.

The movie started out slow, and this really requires some patience before things started to pick up. Honestly, the traps were not too scary like in similar movies. Then, when the twist started, it wasn't too surprising because this was done countless times before. The development of the main character was again, pretty typical, and was supposed to tie to the story. However, it really didn't make a lot of sense and felt cheesy.

There were still things that worked in the movie. Even though the progression was slow, there were still intense scenes that kept me on the edge. The clean camera work and some gores elevated the horror aspect and helped with the scenes.

Overall, it's a mystery that is done better before. 5.5/10.

The premise for this film is simple: A woman is kidnapped by a serial killer and left in a deadly obstacle course...which she must navigate her way through before time runs out.

If she fails...she dies.

The whole thing is barely large enough to crawl through and is filled with puzzles and booby traps.

On her wrist is a light with a timer on it.

It gives her 11 minutes to complete each section.

As you might expect...most of the film is just the actress crawling around what looks like a system of vents.

She's not the only one crawling around in there, however.

As, at times, she is pit against other survivors...whom she must fight in order to survive.

Apparently, the whole system is designed to be failed.

Because you need to fail at least once- after which you are sent back to the beginning, to start again- before you can progress to the end.

It's all very reminiscent of Vincenzo Natali's Cube series.

But this one is clearly meant to be read as a challenge where you face your inner demons- even the devil himself- and win.

Only this isn't a game...it's the spiritual quest of the afterlife.

To free oneself from the cycle of rebirth into the realm of suffering.

To achieve absolute liberation.

Nirvana.

Thus...in the end...it's safe to say she died on the road that day.

But she is still forever, eternal.

A nice little film, with lots of tension inducing moments.

It's no Enter The Void...but it's running off very similar themes.

6.5 out of 10.

Lisa (Gaia Weiss) is alone in the middle of nowhere. A vehicle stops. She reluctantly gets a ride from the creepy stranger. She gets knocked out and wakes up in a futuristic tunnel maze.

This really does meander. The basic premise is very Cube-esque with less people. Quite frankly, she's alone most of the time. The maze does not engender any mystery like the room numbers in Cube. It becomes a series of limited thrills as she crawl around and around. There are a few interesting ideas but the main story has no juice. It's really just watching this lady crawl around in the tunnels for an hour. Fast forward is very useful in this one.

This movie wants to be several things at once but sadly fails at all of them. It starts as thriller but it's not. Continues as Cube-type horror, but it's not. Finishes as metaphysical allegory with a sprinkles of sci fi, but it's not that either.

The visual at the end was nice. Other than that, I'm not sure what I actually watched.

Though I reckon one should not waste too much time on crawling. Sorry I mean on praying - crawling is the thing one has to do ... and quite fast too. For those who have seen something like Cube: try not to compare these movies against each other. Yes similarities are there and it will be tough not to hold this under the microscope.

Having said that, this works as a tense and claustrophobic one woman show almost all the way through. Motives and motivations may be lost on you - you may hate certain decisions that are being made ... but overall there is not time to think about what is happening. Forward is the way to go. But there is also some philosophical note to it. So while this is quite short on dialog and spoken words, when something is being said, it may carry more weight. Depending if you are up to hear and absorb them.

Very well staged and shot and quite the tour de force (no pun intended) for our main character ... obviously the ending may elevate or break the whole thing for you ... I can't tell you which way it will swing for you ...