Saw (2004)

Escape The Field fails to stand out in the crowded horror film genre.

If you have seen any of the Saw franchise, The Escape Room franchise, Cabin in the Woods, or any of the Predator franchise, you've seen this movie. Combining so many references and the expected tropes of the horror genre could be a wonderful roadmap to a unique horror film. Unfortunately, Escape The Field is predictable, formulaic with its references, and offers nothing new to the genre. This is not to say that this is a bad movie. It's enjoyable for a by-the-numbers "kidnapped strangers in Rube Goldberg-esque deathtraps" product. It's a product through and through, right down to the formulaic ending that leaves room for sequels that are really just simple remixes of the first movie. I can practically hear a movie executive exclaiming: more blood, bigger traps, and more sex appeal!

There are two conversations for a film like this; the first being: did it achieve its goals as a product? The answer here is yes, the movie may not be memorable, but it is competent and enjoyable enough. The second consideration is its larger place in the Horror canon. This is where most of the critical shortcomings are located.

Escape The Field is a 2022 horror film directed by Emerson Moore. Moore helped write the film alongside Joshua Dobkin and Sean Wathen. The horror thriller stars Jordan Claire Robbins as "Sam", Theo Rossi as "Tyler", Shane West as "Ryan", Elena Juacto as "Denise", Julian Feder as "Ethan", and Tahirah Sharif as "Cameron".

The story unfolds in a reference trio, The Saw/Cabin In The Woods intro, The Escape Room middle, and The Predator ending.

Malignant, directed by James Wan and written by Akela Cooper with a story from James Wan, Ingrid Bisu, and Akela Cooper, tells the story of Madison (Annabelle Wallis), a woman who has horrifying visions of a string of murders, propelling her into a journey of self-discovery and self-worth.

Malignant build moments of genuine fright through utilizing every aspect of the frame to grab our attention. In scenes reminiscent of the style of horror found in supernatural films, the cinematography, and set design work guide us through the eyes of the characters.

A refrigerator door opening and the almost blink-and-you-miss-it rise of a couch cushion burrow into your brain, no matter how small the moment may feel. The film builds horror well through what might seem as mundane actions by latching onto the small, simple things we fear in real life.