Review: Cube Zero


Another group of people stuck inside a cube structure with no idea of how they got there or how to get out. Meanwhile, they are being observed by two menial workers (Zachary Bennett and David Huband) tasked with observing the people and on occasion ‘testing’ them. Michael Riley turns up as the creepy superior of the two workers, who comes down to see them when one of the men seems to be questioning his job.

 

The third film in the series (some believe it to be a prequel but if so, it’s not actually clear), and this 2004 entry from writer-director Ernie Barbarash (who co-scripted “Cube 2: Hypercube” and directed the cheap and lousy “Hardwired”) is pretty much a complete dud. The film starts out with an interesting split narrative but quickly squanders the opportunity to take this series in a new direction by merely using the split narrative as a different way to have one of the characters enter the cube. Other than that, it’s the same old thing, except this time it’s been done a lot worse.

 

We get an absolutely disgusting, skin-peeling opener in the best way possible, but it’s mostly downhill from there. Sure, it’s nice to have that different narrative arc, but like I said, it ends up a wasted opportunity. The only other difference between this film and the others is that it’s got a letters bent, instead of a numbers bent. Wow, how innovative and creative. I really thought this one might actually give us something new or more substantial to have made the journey worthwhile. Nope, it gives us even less than the previous two, if anything. It reminds me a little bit of TV’s “Lost”, only the shitty second season that seemed to be just pointless, maddening filler that added up to a whole lot of nothing (I loved the first season of that TV show more than almost anything, but the second season sucked, and the series finale was woefully inefficient, and only resolved the issues of the characters, not the mysteries of the island. Irrelevant sidebar over. Carry on!) Actor Michael Riley, meanwhile, seems to be under the impression that he’s John Glover, with a very mannered, but certainly interesting villainous performance. He’s no John Glover, but he can be thankful that he is still the best actor in the whole film. Aside from some deep blue filters, this one’s visual scheme is much more naturalistic than previous entries. It reminds me a tad of “Alien: Resurrection” in that sense.

 

The weakest entry by far, and it all ends on a whimper. Underwhelming in the extreme, this series started off relatively promisingly, but has ultimately been one huge prick tease. I no longer care if they were to make another film, I don’t trust that we’d get anymore answers.

 

Rating: C-

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