“Escape Room” (2019), directed by Adam Robitel, is a psychological horror-thriller that taps into the rising popularity of real-life escape rooms, transforming the concept into a high-stakes survival game. While it doesn’t push the boundaries of the horror genre, Escape Room provides a tense, suspenseful ride filled with clever puzzles, dangerous traps, and a mysterious overarching conspiracy.

Plot Overview:

The film follows six strangers who are invited to participate in an immersive escape room experience for a chance to win $10,000. The group includes:

• Zoey (Taylor Russell), a shy physics student,
• Ben (Logan Miller), a grocery store clerk with a troubled past,
• Jason (Jay Ellis), a wealthy stockbroker,
• Mike (Tyler Labine), a blue-collar trucker,
• Amanda (Deborah Ann Woll), a war veteran, and
• Danny (Nik Dodani), an enthusiastic escape room fan.

What begins as a fun, competitive challenge quickly turns deadly when they realize the rooms are rigged with lethal traps, forcing them to use their wits to survive. As they move from one room to the next—each themed after a traumatic event from their pasts—they discover that they were specifically chosen for this twisted game. The survivors must confront not only the increasingly dangerous puzzles but also their own fears and secrets.

What Works:

• Clever and Inventive Rooms: The film’s primary strength lies in its creative and deadly escape rooms. Each room presents a different puzzle, filled with traps and challenges that are not only visually striking but also tense and engaging. From a freezing cold cabin to an upside-down billiards bar, the film uses its settings to create suspenseful sequences that keep the audience on edge.
• Suspense and Tension: Escape Room excels at maintaining a sense of tension throughout. The unpredictable nature of each room, combined with the fact that any wrong move can lead to death, keeps the stakes high. The film plays out like a horror version of Saw meets Cube, but with more emphasis on solving puzzles than gore, which may appeal to viewers who enjoy suspense over violence.
• Strong Performances: The cast delivers solid performances, particularly Taylor Russell as Zoey, who evolves from a quiet, introspective character to a determined and resourceful leader. Logan Miller’s Ben provides a grounded, everyman perspective, while Deborah Ann Woll’s portrayal of Amanda brings emotional depth to her character’s traumatic backstory. The ensemble works well together, even if their characters are somewhat archetypal.
• Intriguing Setup for a Franchise: The film hints at a larger, shadowy organization behind the deadly escape rooms, adding a layer of mystery to the plot. While the film provides some answers by the end, it leaves enough questions unresolved to set the stage for a sequel, which was ultimately released in 2021 (Escape Room: Tournament of Champions).

What Could Be Better:

• Thin Character Development: Although the film provides brief glimpses into the traumatic pasts of the characters, their development is largely surface-level. The characters, while likable enough, often fall into stereotypical roles: the brainy one, the cocky one, the survivor, etc. As a result, the emotional stakes aren’t as high as they could be, and viewers may find it hard to connect deeply with the characters.
• Predictable Moments: While the escape room puzzles are inventive, some of the plot twists and character dynamics feel predictable. The revelation that each character has a tragic past tied to their selection in the game doesn’t come as a surprise, and some of the deaths can be anticipated based on typical horror-thriller tropes.
• Rushed Ending: The final act of the film feels rushed, as it shifts from the escape room challenges to an exposition-heavy conclusion that reveals part of the conspiracy behind the game. The film’s abrupt ending leaves many questions unanswered, feeling more like a setup for a sequel rather than a fully satisfying conclusion.

Conclusion:

Escape Room is an entertaining and tense psychological thriller that leverages its creative premise to deliver suspenseful, puzzle-based horror. While it may not offer deep character development or groundbreaking plot twists, it makes up for it with inventive set pieces, strong performances, and a constant sense of urgency. The movie successfully turns the escape room concept into a deadly game of survival, appealing to fans of films like Saw or The Cube but with a lighter emphasis on gore.

For viewers looking for a fun, suspenseful thriller with a unique concept and high-stakes tension, Escape Room is an enjoyable ride that leaves enough mystery for a potential sequel.