Cube

In one terrifying 1961 episode of “The Twilight Zone” a small group of characters find themselves trapped inside a featureless cylinder with no memories of who they are or how they got there. “Five Characters in Search of an Exit” was written by Rod Serling, and was based on the unpublished short story “The Depository” by Marvin Petal. This classic episode was clearly an inspiration for this week’s movie “Cube” from Cineplex Odeon Films of Canada in 1997, directed by American Vincenzo Natali from a script he co-wrote with Andre Bijelic and Graeme Manson. Several ordinary people awaken inside a vast structure comprised of interconnected cube-shaped rooms, some of which contain deadly traps. “Worth,” (David Hewlett), actually has some limited knowledge of the labyrinth, as he helped design the outer shell. He believes that the maze is the product of a vast government bureaucracy and that its original purpose has long been forgotten. A young mathematician named “Leaven,” (Nicole de Boer), and an autistic savant named “Kazan,” (Andrew Miller), work out the mathematical code behind the serial numbers attached to each room and begin to work their way towards a possible exit. But the journey is filled with hazards as tensions arise between the inmates, especially with “Quentin,”(Maurice Dean Wint), a sadistic police officer willing to do anything to escape.

Natali uses his limited budget wisely and convincingly suggests an enormous environment while actually filming the entire movie on one single enclosed set. This is an involving and suspenseful thriller from beginning to end, benefiting from a talented cast as well as from Natali’s sharp direction. The film initially performed poorly at the box office, but achieved cult status on home video. This success resulted in a sequel, a prequel, and a remake.

Nicole de Boer went on to play “Ezri Dax” on “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” in 1998-99, and David Hewlett went on to play “Dr. Rodney McKay” from 2001-11 on all three series of the “Stargate” television franchise.