Review: Maze Runner: The Death Cure

Even upon its release in 2014, The Maze Runner already felt past its sell-by date. Capitalising on the success of The Hunger Games, it was another franchise based on a series of popular YA novels that centred around a group of young rebels fighting against powerful figures in a dystopian world. It was serviceable enough entertainment and turned a tidy bit of profit, but it is nothing less than heartening to know that this franchise is finally drawing to a close.

Originally scheduled for a 2017 release but delayed due to a severe injury that star Dylan O'Brien suffered on set, The Death Cure picks up roughly six months after the events of its predecessor, The Scorch Trials. Franchise director Wes Ball wastes no time in plunging viewers deep in the action, kickstarting the film with an exciting action sequence that finds the Gladers Thomas (O'Brien), Newt (Thomas Brodie-Sangster), Frypan (Dexter Darden) and fellow resistance fighters Jorge (Giancarlo Esposito), Brenda (Rosa Salazar), and Vince (Barry Pepper) rescuing a bus filled with children who are on their way to being the latest lab rats for the scientists at WCKD, the organisation who hopes their blood will lead to the cure of the plague which turns the infected into zombie-like creatures called Cranks. Unfortunately, though they save the kids, the main target of their rescue mission, fellow Glader Minho (Ki Hong Lee) was in another cargo that ends up in the Last City, WCKD's base of operations.

The Gladers hatch a plan to break into the walled city with the help of the very much alive Gally (Will Poulter) as well as a terribly scarred resistance fighter named Lawrence played by Walton Goggins who, like fellow veteran thespians Esposito, Pepper, Patricia Clarkson, and Aiden Gillen are all overqualified for such paper-thin roles. Naturally, Thomas shall have to confront romantic interest and turncoat Teresa (Kaya Scodelario), more battles shall be waged, and lives sacrificed before the Gladers save humankind from...the people that have been trying to save humankind all this time?

Such murky morality was never the series' strong suit, which is why it was best when it remained focused on its action set pieces. Ball has a way with executing all the hollow hullabaloo so that it never feels like merely diverting filler. Scenes are well-staged and genuinely exciting, none more so than the finale to which you have to tip your hat even if you have been unimpressed for most of the proceedings.

Maze Runner: The Death Cure

Directed by: Wes Ball

Written by: T.S. Nowlin; based on the novel by James Dashner

Starring: Dylan O'Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Patricia Clarkson, Aiden Gillen, Giancarlo Esposito, Rosa Salazar, Barry Pepper, Ki Hong Lee, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Dexter Darden, Jacob Lofland, Walton Goggins, Will Poulter