Film Review – The Maze Runner

Based on James Dashner’s epic young adult book series of the same name, The Maze Runner is an intelligent, sci-fi thriller set in a post-apocalyptic future that distances itself from your stereotypical, adapted teen films that have graced our screens in years past. With superb casting and an environment that larger-than-life, fans of the book and movie goers alike will enjoy this outing by newcomer Wes Ball.

Dylan O’brien is perfectly cast as Thomas, who is literally thrust into a community of other exiled boys with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. Surrounded by an enormous maze that holds the key to escape, Thomas bands together with second-in-command Newt (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) and adoptee little brother Chuck (Blake Cooper) in order to solve the mysterious maze and find a way back home. The arrival of the first girl and ‘last ever member’ Teresa (Kaya Scodelario) complicates matters however, as it becomes apparent that she and Thomas know each other, and their connection seemingly pose more problems than answers.

An all-round applause should be given to casting director Denise Chamian, who has done an absolutely brilliant job with every single character and the actors who play them. The array of mostly unrecognisable faces does not deter from the fact that The Maze Runner is an immensely enjoyable film, with a vast amount of credit going to these relative new comers. O’brien, who fans may recognise from popular US series Teen Wolf, blends the perfect mix of charm and passion to the lead character. A particular scene towards the end of the film was acted with such raw emotion that it was impossible to not take O’Brien as a serious star on the rise. The same can be said of Scodelario, who weaves a certain kind of magic in every scene she is in. The only issue was her limited amount of screen time, as she ultimately felt underused and underdeveloped as a character which was a little disappointing.

The giant concrete labyrinth that is the centre of all the action is another character in its entirety. Filled with ever changing walls and things that go bump in the night, the maze at its very core is a test of strength and will. Hats off to both the special and visual effects department for creating a sense of overwhelming danger each and every time a character entered the maze. At times I had to remind myself that such a place doesn’t exist, at least to my knowledge, because the overall grandness of it all was done so flawlessly that you couldn’t help but feel trapped and scared at every turn.

Part thrilling action, part sci-fi mystery, The Maze Runner does what so few have done before: turn a popular young adult novel into an entertaining, refined film that will leave audiences thirsty for more.

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