Sci-Fi Thriller Classic Leaves You Claustrophobic And Curious
Every now and again, you stumble across a film that sells itself entirely on its deeply fascinating premise, allowing your mind to fill with possibilities as you work out the internal riddle with the characters on the screen. 1997’s Cube is one such movie, offering a thought-provoking sci-fi premise, some truly interesting performances and character dynamics, and a terrifying outcome that will leave you up all night.
Cube is currently streaming for free on Tubi for those interested in checking it out.
Cube On Tubi
Cube is a Canadian movie that has been praised for its Kafkaesque setting and exploration of the human psyche.
The film, which was written and directed by Vincenzo Natali, features a small, concise cast and a tight, claustrophobic setting. As the movie begins, a handful of assorted characters mysteriously wake up inside a series of shifting cube-shaped rooms, each with no memory of how they arrived there.
After five individuals manage to meet with each other in one centralized cube, they determine that they should stick together and traverse the otherworldly labyrinth as a team.
Tensions Rise
Despite a few early successes in figuring out the trick to the cubes, the movie sees tensions quickly rise between the rag-tag team as they disagree with certain ethical imperatives and traversal techniques.
As the narrative of Cube escalates, the gang breaks down into something of a Lord of the Flies-style battle between utilitarianism and survival of the fittest. By the time the film reaches its thrilling climax, inherent truths are revealed about the cubic structure, the characters trapped within, and the nature of the bizarre situation.
The film leaves a few things open-ended but closes enough narrative loops to be an incredibly satisfying watch.
Mixed Reactions?
Personally, I love Cube, and I can’t believe I had never heard of this movie until a friend showed it to me last year.
If you have the chance to sit down with a few of the biggest sci-fi fans in your life and check this one out, you should definitely take the opportunity to do so. Though critics seemed to have mixed reactions to Cube upon release, the film has become a cult classic with age and has even become the source for a great deal of spinoff hype.
Cube Franchise
Direct sequels for the Cube movie were released in 2002 and 2004, respectively, and a Japanese remake of the same name eventually hit the market in 2021.
There was talk of an American series based on the Cube IP back in 2015, though the project may have fizzled out, as no news of any official production schedule has ever been released.
If you’re upset about the lack of a Cube series however, be sure to look into the cartoon series Infinity Train, as it offers a similarly thought-provoking sci-fi premise.
Streaming Cube
Those looking to give Cube a spin can be sure to stream the movie for free on Tubi today. Just be sure not to look anything up beforehand, as you’ll definitely want to go into this one as spoiler-free as possible.
If you find yourself deeply fascinated by the film after the credits roll, be sure to check out the discussion and plot breakdown on the Genrevision podcast!
REVIEW SCORE
