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ESCAPE ROOM (2017)

Escape Room (2017): A Thrilling Descent with a Frustrating Conclusion

Title: Escape Room

Genre: Horror/Mystery

Year: 2017

Country: United States

This 2017 American horror flick throws a group of six friends into a birthday surprise gone horribly wrong. What starts as a night of playful puzzle-solving in a high-end escape room quickly descends into a deadly game where survival hinges on their wit and a whole lot of luck. The acting in Escape Room is SUPERBLY executed. The cast seamlessly transitions from lighthearted birthday cheer in the film's first half to sheer terror and desperation as they realize they're trapped in a series of rooms rigged with deadly contraptions.

The camerawork is also GOOD, with the close-up shots effectively heightening the claustrophobic tension and the audience's sense of being trapped alongside the characters. The cinematography is well-suited to the genre, creating a dark and unsettling atmosphere.

Now, here's where things get a bit tricky.

While I enjoyed the film's premise and the stellar acting, a couple of things left me wanting more. FOR ME, the biggest drawback is the ambiguous ending. I'm not a huge fan of movies that leave too much unresolved, and Escape Room definitely falls into that category. Additionally, the character development is fairly shallow. We don't get much backstory on any of the characters, leaving you to wonder who they are and what they might have done to deserve their predicament.

This lack of closure combined with the underdeveloped characters led me to a 2 out of 5 star rating.

Netizens weren't exactly blown away either. Reviews were mixed, with some praising the suspenseful atmosphere and others criticizing the predictable plot and unsatisfying resolution. The film also had a modest box office showing, grossing a little over $1.5 million against a reported budget of around $1 million.

So, is Escape Room worth a watch?

If you're a fan of horror movies with a good dose of claustrophobia-inducing tension, then it might be a one-time watch. However, if you crave a clear resolution and well-developed characters, you might want to steer clear.

Bonus fact: Did you know the escape room featured in the film was actually built on a soundstage? Talk about commitment to the set design!