Cube Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

Cube Blu-ray Movie Review

Cube is a Japanese remake of Vincenzo Natali’s original Cube horror film which became a cult favorite in 1997, where it paved a pathway to success as an acclaimed festival horror favorite before finding a bigger audience on home video. The original horror film was so popular on home video that Cube garnered two sequel films and inspired other horror films with deadly traps. The Japanese remake is a new vision of the original and it brings a new angle to the cult favorite.

Executive produced by Vincenzo Natali (Cube, Splice), Shigeaki Yoshida (Lonely Castle in the Mirror, The House Where the Mermaid Sleeps), Cube might not be as original as the original horror film but it brings a new take to the threshold. Produced by Akiko Funatsu (Ichi the Killer, The Goddess of 1967), Satoko Ishida (Parallel World Love Story, Policeman and Me), Cube stars Masaki Okada, Takumi Saitô, Masaki Suda, Hikaru Tashiro, Anne Watanabe, Kôtarô Yoshida, and Tokio Emoto. The film is worth a watch for horror fans.

A group of strangers find themselves put inside a strange room in the shape of a cube. The room is unlike any common room and has a series of mysterious interconnecting rooms that the strangers traverse through. These rooms contain more strange and mysterious challenges to be solved by the strangers.

There is one big challenge after another and the stakes of the game become more difficult by the second. Could the cube be the end of the line for these strangers and only lead to their death with a slice-and-dice fest of horror? Or can these strangers overcome these puzzles and obstacles to survive the horror – solving the clues necessary to leave the game alive?

Shinji Ochi (Masaki Okada), Hiroshi Ide (Takumi Saitô), Yuichi Goto (Masaki Suda), Chiharu Uno (Hikaru Tashiro), Asako Kai (Anne Watanabe), Kazumasa Ando (Kôtarô Yoshida), and First Man (Tokio Emoto) have a lot cut out for themselves. There are a lot of challenges ahead if these strangers don’t want to be cut up into slices and be cubed beings themselves. The stakes are high and the obstacles are aplenty and the game has only just begun.

The performances are admirable for the production. Cube might not have any Oscar worthy performances but the cast does a solid job given the concept of the film. The cast was invested in their respective roles and bring something interesting to the table. The film is often sparse and without a lot of dialogue and the cast handles the material well. The film could have been a lot less interesting with a less invested cast. Casting is often essential in a genre pic like this one and the actors certainly work to enhance the tone of the horror in a subtle and compelling manner. The results add up to something notable overall.

The production design by Naoyuki Hashimoto adds to the horror of the filmmaking. The entire concept revolves around the cube space. The production design for the maze-like element in the film adds an interesting layer to the horror. Cube isn’t as simple as it might seem at first glance and the designs manage to enhance the tone and build more atmosphere for audiences.

Edited by Tsuyoshi Imai (Alice in Borderland, Rurouni Kenshin Part 1: Origins), Cube could have used a little trimming. Even as a short feature-film, there are some scenes that seem over-long and not as focused as ideal. Imai should have cut the film a few minutes shorter – one could easily see ten minutes being cut off with no real loss to the film. As a result, some parts of the film drag when they otherwise work. The result is a film that is not as well edited or precise as is ideal. This is one area that makes the film a bit less successful than some might anticipate. Unfortunately, audiences will instead have to accept a somewhat meandering pace at times.

The cinematography by Tomoyuki Kawakami (Comply+-Ance, DIVOC-12) and Toyomichi Kurita (Sukiyaki Western Django, Trouble in Mind) is a natural highlight. The cinematographic style is outstanding and provocative. The lush cinematography is colorful and vibrant with a daring darkness that lurks under corners of the filmmaking.  The style is superb and adds to the aesthetic and tone of the film tenfold. Impressively dark and surrealistic at times, the cinematography works wonders for the film and for the genre.

The score composed by Yutaka Yamada (Vinland Saga, Tokyo Ghoul) is a bit fun at times – though it isn’t the best component of the film, either. Yamada delivers a solid enough score and one that works well within the concept and execution of the filmmaking. The music is a bit above-average without being especially noteworthy as something one would necessarily want to listen to independent of the film. Nonetheless, the music adds more than it takes away and it certainly does a solid job with the mood – enhancing the atmosphere well-enough.

Written by Kôji Tokuo (Love Deeply, Roppongi Class), Cube isn’t some unexpected masterpiece in the script department, to say the least. The script is average-at-best and doesn’t do anything particularly memorable. The storytelling leaves a lot to be desired. Tokuo is no masterclass screenwriter and the dialogue is often barely passable as television scripting of the average-variety. Given that the script simply adapts and updates an already successful concept, the writer simply seems to phone it in a little, adding less to the experience than what was possible.

Directed by Yasuhiko Shimizu (Vise, Mei no Mei), Cube is largely successful because of the visuals and the style created by the director. Despite an average script and some other elements that are only decent-at-best, the direction is arguably the most interesting part. The film has some compelling elements visually (and this is as much to do with the direction as the cinematographer). The film certainly could have been better overall but director Shimizu tackles the concept and genre with enthusiasm and made something that is moderately entertaining. Worth a watch even if doesn’t break any new ground.

Cube Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Terror Vision, Cube is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 widescreen. The transfer looks impressive with quality encoding and detail. The transfer capably preserves fine detail in the production and brings out the absolute best in the video. Terror Vision does a solid job here with good colors – the cinematography certainly stands out as a clear highlight. The film has an especially interesting aesthetic with a lot of blue and red shades. The color scheme and filters used for the cinematography make the film one that is more interesting visually and the encoding preserves the details well. The transfer doesn't suffer from any egregious compression woes. In the age of streaming, Blu-ray continues to offer the best possible presentation quality with superior video bit-rates that surpass streaming video services. For videophiles seeking the absolute best presentation quality, the Blu-ray release is the way to go to see the film with the best quality achievable. Perfectionists will accept no substitutes.

Cube Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in Japanese uncompressed PCM 2.0 (24 bit) with English subtitles. The lossless audio encoding on the release is excellent. Dialogue is crisp, clear, and easy to understand. The score sounds vibrant and well preserved by the encoding on the release as well. The stereo sound imaging works well and capably handles the sound effects used during the horror elements of the film. The subtitles are excellent as well and are free from any egregious spelling or grammatical errors. The presentation is certainly one that will satisfy audiophiles. Audiophiles who seek the absolute best presentation possible for audio will be pleased with the release. The Blu-ray format offers superior encoding with lossless detail (superior to streaming video services, which only offer compressed audio quality by comparison – usually in MP3 or CD quality at best).

Cube Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release comes with an impressive o-card slipcover. The o-card slipcover is impressive looking and has a nice design. The artwork is fantastic and features unique art that is different from the art seen underneath the slipcover. The inner sleeve art also features interior artwork on the inside of the packaging. The slipcover is printed on quality card stock and feels and looks premium. This is an impressive part of the release and one of the things that Terror Vision excels in.

On disc supplements include:

Interview w/ Vincenzo Natali (HD, 41:38) features the original director and creator discussing the Cube film. Fans of the original who want to hear some insight by Natali will find this to be a noteworthy and appreciable inclusion on the release. Terror Vision did an admirable job with this almost hour-long supplemental feature.

Trailer (HD, 00:58) promoting the release of Cube.

Cube Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Cube is a Japanese remake of the horror classic that spawned an entire franchise. The film has some compelling visuals. The cast does an admirable job with the material. The script might be the weakest link, with average-at-best writing quality. The dialogue isn't as creative or memorable as some might be hoping to find.

Director Yasuhiko Shimizu (Vise) has fun with the concept and made a decent horror film. The film adds something new to the franchise. Terror Vision provides a quality Blu-ray release with a good video and audio presentation alongside an interview with Cube creator and director Vincenzo Natali. The release comes with a premium quality o-card slipcover with compelling artwork. Worth a watch. Recommended.