David Pierdomenico
There’s a common sentiment among some horror fans that PG13 horror films can’t compare to their R rated counterparts. And while it’s true that many of them are merely aimed at teenagers and don’t try very hard, some try even harder. Because of the limits of the PG13 rating, they must be more imaginative and creative in how they pull off their suspense. Films like Insidious, The Ring, or The Sixth Sense all come to mind. Escape Room is also one such example.
Familiar Setup, But Done Well
The film begins with a rush of adrenaline as one character attempts to solve the puzzle in a room that is rapidly trying to kill him. It’s a cool scene that really helps set a tone, but it does reveal a bit too much about the ending since it’s revisited later on. From there we go back in time several days as we’re introduced to a host of characters. We meet an awkwardly shy but brilliant college student, an overly ambitious businessman, and a grocery store clerk trying to get his life back together after dealing with guilt and tragedy.
They may be introduced via overly expositional dialogue, but once they receive the invitation and actually go to the escape room, the film starts to shine. At that point, we meet the rest of the characters including a war veteran, a truck driver, and an obsessive gamer. They work well together as an ensemble; each being diverse and unique enough to keeps things interesting. Because they’re mostly unknown actors, it’s easier for us to see them real people. We later discover that each of them is there for a very specific reason, and the film does a good job of sprinkling this foreshadowing very subtly throughout.
Filled with Imagination and Tension
By far the best part of the film is the unique and captivating array of rooms the characters must escape from. Each one is crafted by an incredibly creative set design, and each feels like a real place. As the characters try and survive, we really feel like we’re there with them. And any enthusiasts of real life escape rooms will find themselves wishing they could be right there to solve them (minus the fatal consequences of course). Granted, there are a few fake outs where a character appears to be in danger, only to be saved at the last second. However, in a strange way this works to the film’s advantage. Because a few times characters are really dying, and the fake outs make the actual deaths feel all the more surprising.
How It Could Have Ended Better (Minor Spoilers)
Unfortunately, despite the many things the film did well, it’s not without its flaws. The plot had a good flow and pacing up until the end, at which point everything slowed down to a drag. There is one distinct scene that would have been perfect to end with, however the runtime continues for another 5-10 minutes; all of which is devoted towards trying to set up a sequel. Not only does this reek of desperation (if a film is good enough, audiences will be interested in a sequel anyway), but it makes the ending long and drawn out. It almost feels like the last few minutes would have worked better as the opening of the sequel, assuming they make one.
Despite the issue with its ending, Escape Room is a still a fun and inventive thriller filled with imagination and tension. It’s perhaps an alternative to the Saw films for anyone who’s a bit squeamish about all the blood and gore. Hopefully it inspires its audience to go out and experience escape rooms for themselves, because they’re lots of fun!
