Cube

A disparate group of strangers wakes up inside a bewildering, cubic complex made of identical rooms, each with a door and a mysterious numbering system. They quickly learn the geometry is lethal: some rooms conceal deadly traps, others are safe for a time. As they probe the layout, personalities clash and small skills prove crucial, so the group tries to map a route using logic, mathematics and crude tools. Suspicion grows as resources run low and tempers flare, and the film keeps tension tight by limiting information and focusing on how people respond under pressure. The aim is escape, but survival depends on who you trust, how you read the numbers, and whether the group can hold together long enough to test theories.

Released in 1998, Cube was directed by Vincenzo Natali and originated from a concept by André Bijelic, Graeme Manson and Hugh Graham. Shot on a modest budget in Canada, the film used sparse sets and practical effects to create its mechanical labyrinth feel.

Cube had a limited theatrical run and modest box office returns, but it found a wider audience on home video and through word-of-mouth, which helped sustain interest long after initial release.

The movie has become a touchstone for indie sci-fi thrillers, notable for its spare production design and cold, clinical atmosphere. Its image of a tiled, trap-filled room and the recurring idea of numbered doors stuck in genre fans' minds, and filmmakers and game designers have referenced Cube's structure and tone in later works. It’s often cited in discussions about minimalist set-driven horror and puzzle-based narratives.

Critics praised Cube for its premise, atmosphere and inventive constraints, while some pointed to thin character backstories or repetitive beats. The film wrestles with themes of trust, social dynamics under strain, authority and chance, and it uses logical puzzles and human psychology to examine how ordinary people behave when systems replace familiar rules.