This teen sci-fi opens with a terrified teenage boy trapped in a freight elevator hurtling skywards. His destination is The Glade, a field surrounded by massive concrete walls, and beyond the walls a constantly changing maze. Confused and suffering memory loss, he's welcomed by a group of teenage boys who all arrived the same way and live in the Maze. They don't know why they're there, all they know is there's no way out.
It's an intriguing premise that keeps you guessing for most of the film. The young man slowly recalls his name, Thomas (O'Brien), but very little else, and it quickly becomes clear he's not quite the same as the other boys. He's not interested in playing by the rules that keep the fragile society in order, and he begins to have dreams that provide a glimpse of his previous life.
Thomas believes his purpose is to find a way out of the Maze, and to do it he has to understand how the Maze works. Joining up with a Runner, Minho (Ki Hong Lee), who explores the maze, they avoid thunderous turning walls and large robotic spiders carrying deadly viruses in a series of thrilling action scenes. It's a clever set, well used by first-time feature film director Wes Ball.
The big reveal, however, doesn't quite live up to what the build-up promises. This is partly because the answer is a stepping-stone to the next instalment of author James Dashner's young adult novels; and partly because after The Hunger Games and Divergent we're increasingly immune to the cruel things adults make teenagers do.
The Maze Runner is a well told story in its own right, but many of the parts will be familiar. That said, this cross between the Lord of the Flies and The Hunger Games leaves you wanting more.
