Maze Runner: The Death Cure: Review

With an initial release set for February 2017, this final chapter of the Maze Runner saga was significantly delayed after a car accident resulted in life threatening injuries to male lead Dylan O'Brien. Fast forward almost a year and we finally have the hotly anticipated climax to the series - hero Thomas embarks on a journey to the last city, in a desperate mission to find and rescue fellow WCKD prisoner Minho, whilst seeking a cure to the 'Flare' virus and settling a few old scores.

The final route through this dystopian maze hits a surprising dead end in an underwhelming closing chapter. Whether it's based on hugely successful books or not, we find The Death Cure out of charm, out of excitement and most certainly out of ideas. The chances are you will be disappointed walking out the screening - still demanding answers to the questions you went in with beforehand. Perhaps I had too much riding on this final chapter to the once exciting franchise, but the result really is as dull as it seems. 

Gaping, decaying city structures and post apocalyptic set pieces are the primary reasons the second  instalment Scorch Trials promised us an epic finale, developing the quirky success of the original. As soon as Thomas and friends reach the dazzling City Central in the final phase of The Death Cure, the film quickly losses the sharp 28 Days Later grit of its predecessors.

One would expect The Death Cure to fill in the blanks - uncovering the truth behind the mysterious and merciless WCKD,  the truth about Thomas and his past, along with a clearer understanding to the human race ending Flare virus. At first a heist movie, then a rescue operation, The Death Cure boils down to just another formulaic story of 'poor against rich'.  The Death Cure pulls in many directions but none that we wanted to go in. A one note tone and no differentiation in characters - this maze ultimately leads to nowhere.

The team swap playful banter and have a few genuine moments but as whole The Death Cure has no real story follow. Wonderfully choreographed fight scenes, car chases and a spectacular train heist opening are all high spots, but this doesn't make up for where the story falters. The various unanswered questions and multiple loose ends render this closing chapter cumbersome and for the most part messy.

The Death Cure starts well but fizzles and burns quicker than you'd expect. Though it could have completed the series with oomph; sadly this feels like an unsatisfying crawl to the finish line. 

Maze Runner: The Death Cure:

Bad