Cube 2: Hypercube (2002)

Nothing spectacular. It is what it is. Kinda reminds me of the SAW series.

Eight strangers awaken with no memory and find themselves in a puzzling cube shaped room where the laws of physics do not always apply.This sequel is directed by Andrzej Sekuła, more often known as a cinematographer; films shot by him include "American Psycho", "Hackers", "Vacancy", and "Armored". That list of credits might make you suspect this is going to be a great film, but you probably would be wrong.Some of what happens in this film is interesting. The general premise is not all that changed from the original. However, it gets a bit more abstract and I am not sure if the science really adds up. Making matters worse, the computer effects are pretty sloppy. They just look bad, plain and simple.

Hyper is a prefix meaning "over". It has a common meaning of the extreme of a thing. So, if "Cube" was good then "Hypercube" should be great. Right? Wrong.Everything was wrong with this. All of the things that made "Cube" endearing were totally lacking in "Hypercube". This time there were ten people in the cube except they only focused on six of them. There was the misplaced alpha male, Simon (Geraint Wyn Davies), who is only there to create conflict. The ultra-protective nurturing doctor, Kate (Kari Matchett), who's there to help everybody. Two handicapped persons, Sasha (Grace Lynn Kung) and Mrs. Paley (Barbara Gordon), both whom were typical burdens until their function was revealed. Two engineer types, Max (Matthew Ferguson) and Jerry (Neil Crone), both whom were unwitting participants in the creation of the cube. I think that covers the very same characters that were in the first version. There were a few other ancillary characters thrown in there but their purposes were insignificant and more-or-less a diversion. Ten cube captives in all and ten terrible actors.The cube itself was a suped up version of its predecessor and it wasn't any better. It was like the classic car that's stripped of its original parts and replaced with a bunch of gaudy upgrades. It may look shinier and newer but it doesn't hold the same value. This cube was a CGI nightmare. Now it moved silently and had a bunch of cartoonish ways of killing the cube members. I know that CGI was still a relatively new toy in 2002 but it cheapened the movie and made it less likable.Even the story was a sham. They tried to give us a little more information while still leaving us guessing. It did nothing to enhance the plot.If I were to run down a checklist grading this movie here's what it would look like:Acting: exaggerated version of all the characters in part one, all more terrible.Story: More convoluted than the first. The cube: Hyperized. In attempts to make it more uncrackable they made it more absurd.My math isn't good enough to get me out of a cube but I know when things don't add up. Poor acting, poor story and a cheap set equals bad movie.

I admit to being a huge fan of the CUBE trilogy. The first film is obviously the best, vicious and exciting in its simplicity, while the third, CUBE ZERO, is an interesting idea that takes the form of a prequel. CUBE 2: HYPERCUBE is a straightforward sequel to the first film, with significant changes that make a difference.Although a number of characters are once again trapped inside a cube, the emphasis this time around isn't on solving puzzles and avoiding traps. Instead the characters must figure out a way to escape from their prison and to avoid the impending death which follows them at all times. There's lots of tension and interplay between the various characters, as before, and I liked the acting from the unknown cast which carries the story along.There are some good twists here, especially with the climax that heads into the fourth dimension, although with a little blood and death for people who like that kind of thing. The special effects are very average on a low budget but as usual it's the ideas which make this film work. It's not on the level of CUBE but I do appreciate the fact that they did something different instead of just doing a slavish copy for a sequel.