The Maze Runner

"Great, we're all bloody inspired."

Thomas (O'Brien) wakes up with no memories.  He soon learns that he is in the Glades, a community of teenage guys.  Their home is surrounded by a giant maze, which they cannot escape.  Every night the gate to the maze closes, trapping them inside, while the maze changes.  The Gladers have survived for 3 years by looking out for each other and working as a group.  Every month they receive supplies and a new recruit, who has no memories.  They have a set of rules, the main one is that no goes into the maze, unless they are a Runner.  Runner's travel through the maze every day and document what they find, to see if they can find some way out.  They are led by Ably (Ameen) the charismatic first boy to enter the Glades.  Thomas is befriended by Alby, his second-in-command Newt (Brodie-Sangster), the lead Runner Minho (Lee), and Chuck (Cooper) the youngest of the group.

Thomas' arrival changes everything.  The next day a runner is attacked, and the boys are spooked.  And then another new arrival appears, this time it is an unconscious girl, Teresa (Scodelario), with an ominous warning in her hand.  As things get worse, can Thomas and his new friends figure out how to escape the maze and get some answers?


A friend introduced me to "The Maze Runner" novel by James Dashner a few years ago.  I loved the book and quickly read the other books in the series (including the prequel).  I was overjoyed that they were going to adapt the series, and couldn't wait to see the film.

I loved the film.  I thought they explained things well, and I loved how they brought the world of the book to life.  However, reading comments and the message board at IMDb, it seems like most people were confused by the film.  You really need to pay attention to pick up some of the important details, things that fans of the book would already know.  Some of the main questions / issues / plot holes that people have with the film are covered in later books, and hopefully will be explained in the sequel(s).

The casting choices were excellent.  Dylan O'Brien, best known for his role on MTV's Teen Wolf, is an excellent Thomas.  He is the audience surrogate and carries the film well.  Aml Ameen has a strong presence in the film, and is incredibly charismatic.  Ki Hong Lee is excellent as Minho, and I look forward to seeing him more in the sequel.  The rest of the boys are spot on, and deliver strong performances as their characters.

The film differs slightly from the books, but most of the changes are minor.  Due to the success of the film, the sequel Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials will premiere in September 2015.  The series will conclude with Maze Runner: The Death Cure will premiere in 2017.

I suggest reading the book, actually read the whole series, before watching the film.  You will understand more and will appreciate how well the film was adapted from the book.  I look forward to seeing the sequel, and hopefully it will do well enough for a film version of the final book and potentially the prequel (Dashner is currently writing another prequel, set to be released in 2016).

The Maze Runner (2014) 113 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for thematic elements and intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, including some disturbing images
Director: Wes Ball
Starring: Dylan O'Brien as Thomas
Aml Ameen as Alby
Ki Hong Lee as Minho
Blake Cooper as Chuck
Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Newt
Will Poulter as Gally
Kaya Scodelario as Teresa
Dexter Darden as Frypan