The benchmark for any sequel is matching the level of quality that the previous film holds while also managing to be surprising. The first Escape Room was enjoyable with how it took a Saw style concept, and threw its own clever spin on it. While the premise didn't earn points for inventiveness, it provided enough excitement to give audiences a thrilling diversion from reality. With Tournament Of Champions, the sequel aims to turn things up a notch with providing a fresh batch of new traps, along with surprise twists and turns regarding the story. The end result is a reasonably entertaining sequel which offers much of the same in terms of being enjoyable, though fails to improve upon its predecessor despite the extended cut's newly added subplots involving the revealing of the puzzlemaker.
Tournament Of Champions plot picks up where Escape Room's left off with another batch of six people finding themselves locked in another series of deadly traps. As they fight to get out, they slowly uncover what they have in common to survive and discover that they're all survivors who've mastered the game previously. The sequel carries the same plot structure as the first with it revealing the masterminds behind the traps. In keeping consistency with the original, the escape puzzles remain the films main attraction with the story focusing on the aftermath of the previous game with surviving characters Zoey and Ben attempting to figure out the masterminds behind them. For fans who've enjoyed the original and have been wishing for a sequel, Tournament Of Champions delivers more of what they want in terms of thrills, even if it doesn't offer a superior film.
As with the previous film, the sequel's cast stands as being one of its main highlights with everyone delivering performances that come across as being believably convincing. Taylor Russell once again impresses with her performance as sole survivor Zoey Davis from the previous film with her character once again being the brains of the group. Logan Miller also returns as survivor Ben Miller with both him and Russell keeping their characters engaging. The rest of the cast deliver solid work with Holland Roden, Indya Moore, Thomas Cocquerel, and Carlito Olivero all giving serviceable work as members of the group who unwittingly find themselves trapped in the escape rooms. Depending on which version one watches, the extended cut features Isabelle Fuhrman and James Frain turning in strong work as puzzlemaker's daughter Claire with Frain as the former in a newly added subplot. The acting for both Escape Room's have much to do with why audiences find them so suspenseful to watch with the sequel proving to be no exception.
Returning as director is Adan Robitel who takes things to the next level with adding more murderous puzzles, ultimately enhancing the stories intensity. Like the first, the traps are visually impressive, well-thought-out and brilliantly executed with Robitel making each new puzzle more advanced. He doesn't rely on jump scares to terrorize audiences, but builds the tension with them being left guessing on whose going to survive each trap. With the films pacing, the theatrical cut wastes no time in diving straight into the action with the extended cut giving more insight to the masterminds behind the traps. Like the original, the sequel retains an almost blood free atmosphere with its PG-13 rating. The violence presented is pretty strong for its rating with scenes involving people being electrocuted, drowned, and burnt to death in acid. In terms of directing, Robitel succeeds in making the sequel look more intense than the first with the traps shown being more deadly. There's no denying that much creativity went into making the traps distinctive from those previously shown with them fueling the films level of suspense.
As visually stunning as the films puzzle set-pieces appear, the main issues rests within its writing despite the extended cut expanding on the overall plot. The scripts biggest issue is the lack of character development between the newest members of the puzzles with them often feeling disposable. The audience doesn't receive much backstory regarding them like the first film gave for the previous players. The latter showed them prior to entering the game and gave quick flashbacks exploring the personal events that led them there. The script does well with keeping the audience connected to Zoey and Ben with the former caring about their friendship, which evolves over the course of both movies. Although it became one of the first films biggest mistakes in revealing the masterminds behind the traps, the extended cut builds on that revelation by exploring the puppeteer behind the escape rooms along with his family tree. The added subplot succeeds in differentiating the follow-up from the original, although it feels a tad distracting and ultimately pulls the narrative away from the puzzle aspect of its story. Despite the additional making the story feel fuller, it still doesn't compensate for the shortage of character development outside of the films main returning characters.
Looking at both the theatrical version which feels more like a cut and paste version of the first, and its extended one that provides answers regarding the origins of the traps, audiences will find the latter version to be the stronger film although neither manages to outdo the original. The strength of both Escape Room films rests within the franchises intriguing concept, although it's execution feels more like a knockoff of both the Saw and Hostel franchises than anything else. The first was effective because its story felt like a puzzle within itself with characters that had just enough development to maintain your interest. Tournament Of Champions gives audiences more of what they enjoyed previously, though loses much of the mystery surrounding the traps that drew audiences to the story. The sequel won't win over any new fans and will gives audiences more impressive set-pieces involving deadly traps. However, the follow-up serves as being a prime example that going bigger doesn't always mean better.
Final Verdict: Worth a watch for those who enjoyed the first Escape Room.
Images Courtesy Of Sony Pictures
No comments:
Post a Comment