Escape Room: Tournament of Champions - Extended Cut (2021) Movie Review

 

Escape Room: Tournament of Champions - Extended Cut | 2021 | 1h 36m
Genre: Psychological Horror/Psychological Thriller/Suspense Mystery/Whodunnit/Action/Adventure/Horror/Mystery/Sci-fi/Thriller | Country: US
Director: Adam Robitel | Writers: Will Honley, Maria Melnik, Daniel Tuch
Cast: Taylor Russell, Logan Miller, Isabelle Fuhrman
IMDB: 5.7
My Rate: 8/10

Zoey and Ben try to find and uncover the whereabouts of Minos, but instead, they are forced and trapped in another escape room game along with winners from other Escape Room games. They strive to save themselves from various threatening dangers until Minos’s hidden veil is revealed.

Warning:

Violent scenes, alcohol, and strong language.

 
Synopsis:

Zoey conducts research about Minos and asks Ben to accompany her to the coordinate point where Minos is located. Initially, they planned to travel by plane, and Minos had prepared another escape room related to their flight. However, Zoey’s fear makes them choose to travel by car to New York instead.

In another story, Sonya has just returned from a trip with her daughter, Claire. Sonya visits Henry, her husband, who is busy working. It turns out Henry is the mastermind behind Minos who prepares all the challenges and puzzles for the participants.

Sonya feels that her marriage can no longer be maintained and asks to separate from Henry. Henry requests time until his work is finished before they can discuss it further. Sonya agrees and chooses to calm her mind by swimming and using the sauna. However, Sonya becomes trapped in the sauna and must solve puzzles to get out. Although she almost succeeds, she dies due to the high temperature that burns her body.

Zoey and Ben, having arrived at the coordinate point, are surprised that the building they find is empty as if never used before. However, Zoey remains convinced that the building is used by Minos. While Zoey and Ben are exploring, they suddenly encounter a homeless person who steals Zoey’s necklace. A chase ensues between them.

The chase leads them to the subway, where Zoey and Ben get trapped. Something strange happens when they suddenly realize the train they are on has no driver and there is an odd announcement. Zoey and Ben realize they have fallen into Minos’s trap.

Zoey and Ben meet Rachel, Brianna, Nathan, and Theo, who are also survivors of the escape room game. They try to solve the challenges before the electricity flowing throughout the train car electrocutes them. Theo is killed during the attempt, while the others escape and are taken to a new challenge in a room resembling a bank.

Zoey realizes that the current challenge is different from previous ones. This game no longer relates to their past traumas but concerns a character named Sonya, whose identity is unknown. They strive to solve all puzzles to safely escape Minos’s game.

Will they succeed in overcoming all challenges and uncovering Minos?

 

Review:

Escape Room: Tournament of Champions is a sequel to Escape Room (2019), also released under other titles such as Escape Room: No Way Out and Escape Room 2: Deadly Game. Additionally, this film has two versions: the theatrical version and the Extended Cut. Unlike typical Extended Cuts, which usually keep the same story but add some longer scenes, this film presents a truly different story.

The Extended Cut has a longer duration of 1 hour 36 minutes, while the official version is only 1 hour 28 minutes. Differences are also seen in the beginning and ending of the film. The official version opens with an interaction between Zoey and her psychiatrist. Amanda, a character who died in the first film, also reappears as if 'brought back to life.'

In contrast, the Extended Cut features different characters—Henry, Sonya, and Claire—who play important roles in Minos. The story begins and ends with events related to these three people. Therefore, this review is based on the Extended Cut, which is definitely very different from the official story.

Filming for Escape Room: Tournament of Champions took place in Cape Town, South Africa, from November 2019 to January 2020. Additional scenes were shot in January 2021. It is not clearly explained why this was necessary, resulting in two different versions of the film. The release date also fluctuated, influenced by the Covid-19 pandemic, which significantly affected all activities.

Most viewers felt disappointed with the official version because it seemed rushed and the story depth was imperfectly executed, leading to less favorable reviews. The Extended Cut, however, can be said to be more exciting and focused than the first sequel. Moreover, the beginning and ending are more logical and consistent with the first sequel.

The story background is built very well, starting with a recap of important events from the first sequel. However, this part feels too long and takes up considerable time at the start. Then, viewers are introduced to the background of Minos, the main topic aligned with the protagonist’s goal to uncover the Minos organization.

The backgrounds of the new characters are presented very well. Their connection to the story is very clear and important. Although not explained in depth, it is sufficient to serve as the foundation of the story.

The conflicts arise smoothly and well. The puzzles that become challenges in the game vary in tension levels. They remain innovative and creative. It can be said that it is more interesting than the first sequel because the tension feels stronger. The contributions of each character are also more apparent.

The ending is presented very well. Although there is no surprising plot twist, it remains interesting and meets expectations. All endings are very satisfying from all sides, both Zoey and Ben’s perspectives and Minos’s side, where each character’s goals are well achieved.

The acting of the players is very good. Effects used in several scenes, such as the electricity on the train, lasers in the bank, and others, look very neat. The details in filming, transitions, and editing are done very well. The choice of music and sound effects also fits each scene.

One slight drawback is the scene of Zoey and Ben inside the car. It looks less smooth because the travel background appears fake. Additionally, there is a scene that may have been overlooked: when jumping over the bank counter and landing on tiles where a wrong landing could trigger laser effects. However, the characters seem to jump carelessly and the laser effect does not appear, especially on Zoey’s part. Previously, even a slight mistake immediately triggered the laser.

Overall, this film offers an interesting presentation with a quite impressive storyline. Unfortunately, this version is not the official one commonly found.

 

Memorable scene:

Zoey, inside a taxi, watches Rachel and Brian surrender and stand under acid rain. Rachel and Brian embrace each other, enduring the pain caused by the acid rain. In this scene, we see how they reluctantly accept their ‘fate’ because there is no more effort they can make. In life, we often face similar situations where we have fought hard and desperately, but sometimes we must surrender.

 

Memorable dialogue:

"If we keep playing, how many must die before this is over?"

 

Ending:

Happy Ending

 

Recommendation:

Worth to Watch

 

(Aluna)