The “Escape Room” film series is known for its diverse escape rooms and the terrifying sense of danger they create. It’s safe to say that these movies are genuinely captivating, unexpectedly becoming a dark horse success upon their release in North America. Today, I want to delve into this thrilling and suspenseful “Escape Room” series.
Escape Room (2019)
Released in 2019 and directed by Adam Robitel, “Escape Room” features a cast including Taylor Russell, Jay Ellis, Tyler Labine, and Deborah Ann Woll. The film revolves around six strangers who each receive a mysterious invitation promising a million-dollar prize for winning an escape room game. They soon discover that the game is brutally real, and their lives are on the line.
The movie kicks off with six strangers from different walks of life participating in a challenge. They don’t know each other and aren’t friends. An unexpected incident turns them into survivors, brought together by a mysterious force. The masterminds behind the escape rooms aim to test who among these “lucky” individuals is the luckiest, leading to a deadly game. While the plot is relatively straightforward, the film shines in its meticulous design of the escape rooms.
The film excels at maintaining a tense atmosphere. There are six escape rooms, each specifically designed for the six “lucky” participants. For instance, the furnace room targets the female soldier who suffered severe burns in the Iraq War. The gas room is tailored for the ultimate escape room enthusiast who is always in a state of excitement. Each room is unique, and I won’t spoil who makes it out alive. You’ll have to watch it yourself to find out!
Escape Room 2: Tournament of Champions (2022)
“Escape Room 2,” released in mainland China in April 2022, is a mystery thriller directed by Adam Robitel, starring Taylor Russell and Logan Miller. It follows six champions who survived the “Minos Escape Room” and are once again drawn into a world-class escape room game.
The challenges are even more difficult this time around. The previous “Escape Room” left a lasting impression, and I questioned whether the sequel could live up to the original. After watching it, I understood why the sequel took so long. The writers and director clearly put in the effort, meticulously designing multiple escape rooms with higher difficulty levels. In the first movie, some escape methods could be guessed with “cleverness,” but this time, each level was unexpected.
For example, the subway level stumped me. Detaching carriages, using handles to get coins, unlocking with coins… everything was interconnected, and I was constantly amazed by the writers’ ingenuity. In similar films, the subway level could easily serve as the climax, but in “Escape Room 2,” it’s just a warm-up. The subsequent bank, beach, and street acid rain levels were all unexpected, making me feel like my IQ wasn’t up to par. “Escape Room 2” not only features more difficult levels but also brings a more intense atmosphere and a more brain-teasing process.
“Escape Room 2” is restrained in this regard, avoiding overly graphic scenes to create atmosphere. Thanks to this, the version released domestically was uncut, allowing viewers to experience the film in its original form while still enjoying both sensory and emotional stimulation. Adrenaline levels remain high throughout the viewing experience.
Constant flashes of lightning, quicksand that rapidly engulfs people, and inescapable acid rain allow viewers in the cinema to experience burning and suffocation to the fullest extent. The film pays attention to detail, such as the sores caused by acid rain and the wounds inflicted by lasers, which look incredibly realistic.
The emotional stimulation is multifaceted. On one hand, there’s the despair of not knowing whether you’ll survive. While watching the movie, I kept shouting in my head, “What are they going to do? I hope they’re okay! Please don’t go any further!” After each level, I found myself clenching my fists.
On the other hand, although I expected round after round of challenges, each one was cleverly designed, bringing sudden tension and shock. After the experience of the previous film, the two leads are even more outstanding, and the performances of the other characters are also commendable. Compared to other types of movies, “Escape Room 2” requires the actors to maintain a state of anxiety and tension throughout, which is not easy, but they all managed to do it.
In “Escape Room 2,” the film sets up a basic image for each character and gives them time to reveal their personalities and identities through conversation. However, it doesn’t make the most of this. Brianna’s identity as a blogger doesn’t serve much purpose, and Nate’s faith only provides an excuse for his recklessness, leaving little impression.
“Escape Room 2” lives up to expectations, delivering upgraded escape rooms, a more intense atmosphere, and more thrilling scenes. As a result, it received positive reviews after its release in North America, praising it as “purely enjoyable,” “a blend of creativity and tension,” and “full of twists.” What’s even more remarkable is that the theatrical version has a very different opening and ending compared to the streaming version, which is worth experiencing.
In contrast, in the first film, each character undergoes a transformation, from suspicion to gradual trust, and then to confrontation.
Overall, I think “Escape Room 2” is decent, but if the series wants to avoid becoming worse with each installment, increasing the richness of the plot may be necessary.
That’s all for the “Escape Room” film series. Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below. Thank you for watching!