Cube (2021) Japanese [review]
Cube (2021) Japanese [review]
This is not the cube I was hoping for.
Quick Review
Bad film.
This is a Japanese remake of the Western movie ‘The Cube’ (1997), which spawned 2 sequels; ‘Cube 2: Hypercube’ (2002) and ‘Cube Zero’ (2004). None of which had massive budgets but never felt tacky. Not to say they were all good!
Watch any of those 3 movies over this. I rate ‘Hypercube’ as the worst out of the Western films, most people do, though infinitely better than the Japanese ‘Cube’. The problem, I believe, comes from the idea behind the cube. It limits a films international appeal.
Lots of people are trapped in a maze of cubes. Very claustrophobic. How did they get there? Why are they there? How do they escape? ‘Random’ rooms have deadly traps which hamper progress. There’s no food, drink, bathrooms or concept of time. In this sense, the Western and Japanese films are mostly identical.
While these movies have a terror element in the form of traps, those exist to supplement the social interactions; how different personalities, people from conflicting backgrounds, behave under immense pressure. Strong actors and story are required.
This film is Japanese. The actors are all Asian and Asians struggle to emote believably. That’s a big problem to be analysed in a later article. Without believable acting to watch, there’s just the cube. One which feels cheap, even compared to the original 1997 release that was produced on a moderate budget.
Who were the characters? What were their names? What were their backgrounds? How old were they? Don’t ask me. It’s been a couple of days and none of them are memorable. Something about a school? There was a roof. Maybe I dreamed those?
Enjoy tired Japanese tropes of rebellious youths, the quiet guy, angry guy and disapproving old man. Yawn. Why not an ex-Sumo wrestler or someone paralysed from the waist down, both of whom would struggle to negotiate the maze? Perhaps they get left behind? Creativity doesn’t translate to multi-million dollar CGI.
Traps were stale and boring. Especially as there were 3 Western films to take inspiration from. Not to mention the plethora of torture porn inspired ‘horror’ movies which followed. Deaths were also… spoilers. Were there even any?
The ending was unimpressive to say the least. Don’t expect questions to be answered or any big reveals. It ends and things carry on as before.
‘Cube’ may appeal to Japanese audiences who can relate to the authoritarianism, social dilemmas and terrible acting. Though well put together, there’s nothing I found enjoyable in this movie. It’s lacking horror, emotion, creativity. The only reason I made it to the end was because I’m a huge fan of the original Western release.
If you want to relive the magic of ‘The Cube’, watch ‘The Cube’ or ‘Cube Zero’. Treat yourself, watch one after the other. I give you permission.
Overview
Native Title: Cube: Ichido haittara, saigo
Genre(s): Horror
Location(s): the cube
Writer(s): Vincenzo Natali, Kôji Tokuo
Director(s): Yasuhiko Shimizu
Main actor(s):
Possible Robot Angel Person
Moody Person
Old Person
Young Person
Insane Person
Incel
Kid
…Japanese people
Official Synopsis (doubtful):
“6 people are locked in a mysterious cube shaped room. These 6 people are: 29-year-old engineer Yuichi Goto (Masaki Suda), 37-year-old association employee Asako Kai (Anne Watanabe), 31-year-old Freeter Shinki Ochi (Masaki Okada), 13-year-old middle school student Chiharu Uno (Hikaru Tashiro), 39-year-old mechanic Hiroshi Ide (Takume Saito) and 61-year-old company executive Kazumasa Ando (Kotaro Yoshida). These 6 people are complete strangers to each other. They don't know why they are locked in the room, but they try to escape out of the mysterious cube. If they can’t decipher the code, they won't get out of the cube.”
Box Art:
In More Detail (no major spoilers)
No major spoilers here, but film structure and plot is analysed in detail. If in doubt, just watch the film.
I feel so deflated writing this. ‘The Cube’ (1997) won’t give your life any deeper meaning, but I watch it and its sequels at least once a year. They’re fun movies. Most films have twists or endings which are easily predictable, however ‘The Cube’ does a decent job at keeping viewers distracted from the obviously inevitable.
With a budget of around $350k (Canadian), the 1997 Western film looked damn good. Still does. I assume a lot of money went towards its stellar cast; sporting the lovely Nicole de Boer and annoyingly likable Dr McKay (yes, David Hewlett). At least I hope it did. Both are infamous for their roles in sci-fi TV series. Would like to think they’ve earnt enough to live comfortable lives after all the happiness and hope they’ve brought.
This Japanese remake misses every mark. It’s all wrong. Which I guess is what Japanese people think when they watch Western remakes of their films? There are a few Japanese movies I enjoy, but I’ll tolerate a bad Japanese film as much as a Western one. Unfortunately, it just so happens, the first Japanese movie review I’m writing is for a terrible movie. Shit happens.
Acting and Characters
Asian movies are very hit and miss when it comes to dramatic acting. More often than not, they devolve in to flailing and screaming in all situations. Usually it’s fairly minor and easy to ignore, however ‘Cube’ is a movie about social interactions featuring strong emotions and weak acting.
A cultural gap definitely exists, but do people really find this ‘acting’ believable in Japan? Characters flailing and screaming at the most minor of emotional outbursts. Their bodies thrusting back and forth as though possessed. Faces contorting like a clown having a stroke.
Many years ago I believed this was done for comedic effect, eventually arriving at the conclusion that it’s bad acting. Every Japanese film can’t be a comedy! Unfortunately it stood out more in ‘Cube’ because there wasn’t much else to concentrate on. This isn’t a dig at Japanese women, there’s only 1 in ‘Cube’, the men do it too.
There’s a (cough) girl in the cast and I forgot she existed for most of the movie. I can’t imagine how things might have worked out differently if she had not been there. Her absence would have been appreciated. There is a scene which requires her, though it’s not explained and makes little sense.
I could have predicted the generic, 2 dimensional characters. Old guy who’s mad at young rebellious guy. There’s tough guy who doesn’t talk to anyone. Clearly insane guy, who everyone pretends isn’t, then goes…. more insane. It’s every Japanese stereotype in 1 movie. I was expecting the cube to start Tokyo drifting by the end.
To me, ‘Cube’ felt like ‘Evil Dead’ (2013). What was the point in either movie? The originals were infinitely superior in every way; scarier, better written, better acted, better music. Everything was remade to be worse. These new iterations neither contain expanded lore or story progression. Worthless.
If the original movies can’t be improved upon, or adapted to be significantly different, don’t make the film. Or go with a sequel/prequel that wouldn’t be judged so harshly.
What is the Cube and Why Are People Inside?
The captives don’t seem to care so why should I?
‘Cube’, along with the Western releases, isn’t about the cube. The social interactions of people within the cube are the focal point of the story. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter why the cube exists; prison, a dream, afterlife, aliens?
That doesn’t mean the situation should be ignored. With no connection to the outside world, I would expect figuring out why people are in this torturous environment would be the hot topic? Triggering paranoia and debilitating mental disorders. These Japanese captives don’t appear to care.
Again, that may be a cultural thing I can’t relate to. Is it normal in Japan to be locked in a series of rooms containing traps designed to kill you? Think I would have heard about it.
If the climax to the film was knowing the purpose of the cube, it would likely lack replay value. Most films centered around ‘shocking’ reveals tend to make big numbers on opening weekends, but who’s going to see them again? ‘The Usual Suspects’ (1995) was a great film first time around. Once you know who Keyser Söze is, there’s nothing there. The story is dull, writing bland, dialogue monotonous, acting is wooden.
A strong, well written story is required like with ‘Fight Club’ (1999). Once you understand the reality behind Tyler Durden, there are numerous enjoyable scenes and lines that make it a great movie on consecutive watches. ‘Fight Club’ would have been a moderate success without the twist, but the complexity makes it a classic.
What ‘Cube’ lacks is a coherent twist built-in to an engrossing story. Something happens at the end but I wouldn’t call it a twist. This event also doesn’t relate to anything else in the movie. One room has a big TV. Sort of. That’s for the spoilers section. There’s not much to spoil, it’s a big TV…
Perhaps there’s some spiritual Japanese belief system this movie is meant to embolden? As a Westerner I have no idea what it could be. Whatever the idea behind the cube was, it needed hinting at within the movie. Otherwise there’s nothing interesting to follow.
Everyone seems caught up in their own, being generous, backstory rather than figuring out a meaning to the cube or method of escape. Why does it exist, why are there traps, why are people inside, how can they escape? None of these questions are answered so why am I watching? What message are you trying to convey?
A couple of the characters have a sort of revelation, but their comical ‘Japanese’ acting should have anyone with an ounce of dignity hiding their face in shame. Not sure if something can be called a revelation when they seemingly knew all along.
An incoherent story and dumb reveal at the end, are the primary reasons I hate this movie. Plus everything else.
The Traps
Were awful. 3 Western movies to pick from and they went with those?
‘Cube’ edges more towards space magic for its traps and I detest space magic. What’s wrong with a room that sprays acid at people? A room that plays an ever increasing loud sound to cause brain hemorrhages? A room that gets really hot or cold? Keep it simple.
When an object propels out from a wall which it couldn’t possibly fit in, I’m not thinking “Oooo, special effect!”. I’m thinking “That’s dumb”. Saying it out loud actually.
Just because an effect can be made, doesn’t mean it should. We can make anything in a computer. It’s not reality. There are no physical laws to obey. Filmmakers need to break this ridiculous mindset of what they want to see, rather than what looks good. Viewers need to believe these events could take place, on some level.
Even laser beams are dumb. Giant moving cubes were possible in both 1997 and 2023; 26 years later. Simple hydraulics. Lasers aren’t. Keep everything simple and believable.
Do the Japanese Not Eat?
Minor niggle, however it adds to immersion. There’s no sense of time in the cube but we’re given the impression certain people have been there for days. Are they not hungry or thirsty?
The Western release acknowledges this with plastic. The captives rip buttons off their clothes and suck on them. The Japanese release, unless I stroked out while watching, ignores the issue entirely. That’s more bad writing.
Where do they pee and pooh? On the script?
Reach for the Sky
A moment which amused me, one I can’t imagine being a spoiler, was the a guy trying to reach a ceiling door.
Cubes have 6 walls, each incorporating a door to an adjacent cube. The prisoners decide to try the ceiling door. Problem; only 1 of them has the upper body strength to climb through.
A second person tries but clearly can’t do it. The scene is cut to make it look as though they do. They clearly didn’t. Maybe don’t write feats of athleticism your actors can’t accomplish?
I just found it funny. Eating rice, vegetables, fish, shit food, makes you weak. Eat cow and lift a weight. Seriously.
How did the others make it through the ceiling door? You’ll have to watch!
(don’t watch)
The Ending is Not Worth It
As with many, many…. many films, enduring this torture is not worth the investment.
There’s a laughable fight scene and something does happen which might link back to a character. That’s not being cryptic, I honestly don’t know. There’s a person who quite obviously… something, something… and that loosely links to the ending. At least I think that was the intention.
None of it makes any sense. There aren’t hints or easter eggs. Stuff happens and you must try to form your own links between events. That’s not great directing. All the pieces should be there for me to construct, not constantly question myself as to whether a giant TV screen… yeah, spoilers.
Perhaps it’s a movie not intended for outsiders? All this may make sense to the Japanese? It’s not for me.
You Know…
I would have made this film an extension of the Western cube series. Keep it Japanese with a Japaneses cast, but throw a non-Japanese speaker in to the cube.
This creates drama and tension, with neither party being able to understand each other. Is one of them responsible for the cube? Are they out to kill each other or escape? Lots of possibilities which could leave an open ending for sequels.
Perhaps there are people speaking all different languages through the maze? As the cubes shift, different people, who can or can’t understand each other, are swapped around? That could be interesting with a good director. Or a complete shit show under the direction of me.
Obviously ignore ‘Hypercube’. Goes without saying. Perhaps make a prequel where the Japanese build the original cube and are testing it for the Americans? Canadians. Same thing.
What I wouldn’t have done is make this.
Don’t Read This Section!
I’m not covering the entire movie and taking away potential earnings. This is an area for parts of the review which may ruin the viewing experience, not for disclosing every plot point.
Why Are the Rooms Different Colours?
As far as I’m aware, this was never explained in any of the movies. Would have been nice to finally know.
Perhaps it’s psychological? Red infers bad, so people are less likely to enter a red room? But if it’s safe and people go in, they could spend a lot of time there resting. Red invoking anger could increase tensions amongst the captives?
Probably overthinking it.
“This room’s g…g…green” - Love that line, I use it all the time when I’m confused.
Is That an IP Address?
No it’s not an IP address you fucking moron. Those have 4 sets of numbers. They’re obviously coordinates.
This is the world of the idiot generation; unable to think of, or comprehend, anything outside their indoctrinated social media bubbles.
That line really pissed me off. An IP address is not 3 sets of numbers!
That Fight Scene at the End
“Waaaa, I work I job I don’t like”
“Waaaa, kids make fun of me at the convenience store”
I guess it’s not only Western countries that have mentalist snowflake problems. Although I do blame it on the Japanese, as all these perverts usually turn out to be obsessed with weeb culture.
Tragically bad. I would guess the final fight was choreographed by someone who things comic books are real? Some incel weeb who thinks they can lift a car, knock out a guy 3 times their size, if shouting loudly enough to build rage!
Zero force was used in the struggle. Actors can throw a quick punch so long as you don’t connect, it’s pretend; acting. A guy is pinned to the floor, unable to move, because someone is pushing down on their sternum with a boot. Seriously? Not standing on them, standing next to them and pushing down. There is no force in that scenario to keep an opponent pinned. Try it.
When downed, attack his knee, other leg, roll out of the position? No. Lay down, scream and flail like all bad Japanese actors do when forced to emote.
A little kid is gently pushed in to a wall and collapses, seemingly in agony. Even with actors performing their own stunts, that should have had far more force. My dog jumps on me 10x harder than that when he wants to play.
Is it an issue with direction and not the actors? Can the cast not relate to the scenarios, so overact to compensate? Japan is renowned for being s strict hierarchical society. I imagine actors keep their mouths firmly shut on set and do what they’re told. Might want to change that mentality.
It’s not the worst fight scene I’ve ever endured. However, in an underwhelming film, it stands out as a particular low point. Fight scenes should be heart-pounding, rage inducing and worrisome. Not… ugh.
The goblin king of Akron is a more convincing fighter than anyone in ‘Cube’…
The Giant TV Wall
Again, events have to be kept believable. There’s nothing to imply these events are set hundreds of years in to the future. So why the magical giant TV wall?
If I were generous, I would say that maybe it links back to robot girl? If she is a robot. Perhaps this is a world of robots set thousands of years in the future? Then why are the humans there? Are they being tortured? That could be a better story. A cross between ‘A.I.’ (2001) and ‘The Cube’ (1997).
With characters having flashbacks to modern day events, we can safely assume it’s set relatively close to present day (2023). So when that wall turned in to a borderless video display which played back memories, I lost interest.
That’s the Japanese jumping a shark infested cube.
Maybe They Were in the Cube Because…
Atonement? They’re all bad people, I think, so needed to accept that before passing on to the afterlife? Is that Shintoism?
Then why was there a robot lady? Are the robots enforcing religion or do they control the afterlife? Was she an angel and not a robot? Do angels have problems blinking?
These questions, plus many more, will never be answered!
Robot Lady
We get it, you’re not human. No one blinks like that. Don’t make it so face-slapping obvious. It’s insulting to the viewer.
More importantly, why aren’t you human? What does it add to the story? Nothing. Why is she in the story then? Is she a robot or an angel? Are machines angels? Whatever.
She appears out of nowhere and does some stupid, forced blinking. To me, this infers she’s a robot. Particularly since her dumb blinking is so amateurishly thrown in your face. Be subtle. Keep her annoying blinks, but don’t have her gimpoid face filling up the entire screen when she does it. That’s how you add clues for future twists.
She Adds nothing to the story. Doesn’t guide the humans out of danger. Provides no insight in to the cube. There is no reason for her to exist. But she does. Which makes the movie that little bit worse.
Maybe she exists to help one of the captives escape? Why just one? Why does she go back in at the end? If she a rebel robot angel?
Ending
The ending could have been acceptable if it weren’t for the Western films. ‘The Cube’ (1997) has an ambiguous ending. A guy walks out of the cube and in to oblivion. That’s mimicked in this Japanese release. ‘Hypercube’, though painfully dumb, ended cleanly; we know why people were there and the point of that cube. ‘Zero’ linked back to ‘The Cube’, which was an interesting twist.
My point being, most people who watch this will likely know about the original Western release. They, or I, expect something more. It’s 25 years later. If this Japanese release were a shot-for-shot remake, it failed. If it were aiming for something new, it failed.
Let’s say you haven’t seen the Western releases. The ending is worse in this Japanese iteration because no connection is formed with the characters. I don’t care if they all live or die. One of them escaping the cube is meaningless to me. I would have preferred something more tragic.
Perhaps a person is fatally wounded and dies upon exiting the cube? Then the filmmakers could have claimed an existential crisis with the meaning of life and blah blah blah.
Upon exiting the Japanese cube there is an infinite road with kind of square paneled walls. Why even show that? It reveals no motive behind the cube, answers no questions and doesn’t explain the survivors fate. But now it’s in the film and needs to be addressed. You’ve written yourself in to a corner. It’s padding with more unanswered questions. Stupidity under the guise or art.
Ending in a similar way to the original isn’t so much a homage, as a sigh at a wasted 90 minutes I’ll never get back.
No, You Are Dead
Of course the ‘hero’ isn’t dead. Sure he has large slashes across his torso, slashes across his legs, is covered in blood and was dropped from the ceiling on to his back over a door lever that would have impaled him. Just a scratch.
The 3 story fall on to this back would have killed him. Those slashes from the previous room would have killed him. No, he’s fine.
This is why I hate Asian movies. It’s a very immature mindset that Westerners abandoned after the 1990’s. Does that mean Westerners are better though? YES!
Japan, likely due to weeb culture, still runs with this notion that everything is a fantasy. Well if the ‘hero’ survived all this, then the crazy guy easily survived being ripped apart by the mechanical tentacles. In fact, everyone else in the movie would have survived.
A movie doesn’t have to be realistic. But when you’re making a realistic movie, it does.
Don’t even get me started on the Japanese and their tentacle fetish...
