Escape Room (2019)

Directed by Adam Robitel. Starring Taylor Russell, Logan Miller, Jay Ellis, Tyler Labine, Deborah Ann Woll, Nik Dodani. [PG-13]

Six strangers participate in a game involving a series of escape rooms that prove to be complex, deadly, and (surprise, surprise) a strain on credibility well past the breaking point. Think (neutered) Saw meets Cube, and then lower expectations quite a bit because this film can’t even hit those modest heights. Slick, competently-made thriller has a few cleverly designed scenarios, but suffers from inconsistent logic and little meaning, plus it’s too generic and tame to appeal to those just looking for some bloody mayhem. The cast is okay but the characters mostly unlikable; the fatal traps can’t spring fast enough on some of them. Ends with a set-up for a sequel that hopefully will never come, though judging by the low cost to churn out a product like this, is probably inevitable.

31/100