Based on the bestselling young adult novel with the same title, “The Maze Runner” opens on a scene of a boy named Thomas (Dylan O’Brien, the real star of “Teen Wolf”) riding an elevator up to a mysterious place called the Glade, the center of a massive stone maze, where a group of boys live. With no memory of who he is or why he’s there, Thomas learns that the boys tried to escape many times without success, and have resorted to maintaining a community within the safety of the stone walls. The only exceptions are the so–called runners, who dash through the maze everyday to find a way out. One day, when a girl arrives in the Glade with an ominous note, things begin to change.
Director Wes Bell chose a narrative structure that allows the audience to learn what’s happening alongside Thomas. The result is an audience as invested in the story as the characters are.
Unlike other dystopian narratives, “The Maze Runner” is free of any cliche romantic subplots. Instead, the audience focuses on the action and on the meaningful relationships forged between characters. Kaya Scodelario of “Skins” fame ditches her usual British accent and makes a big impact as Teresa, the first girl to be brought to the Glade. Poulter, who played Kenny in “We’re the Millers,” sheds his innocent image for a new tough–guy role as Gally.
Though he’s new to the world of blockbusters, Bell has created a cinematically exciting film, sure to impress both avid fans of the book series as well as those new to the franchise.
