‘Death Cure’ is Fitting End for ‘Maze Runner’ Series [Review]

Posted By Matt Artz on February 21, 2018

The third movie adaptation of the popular Maze Runner book series, The Death Cure is the most action-packed and emotional adventure of the franchise.

After the intimate-by-comparison Twilight Zone-esque introduction to our main characters in The Maze Runner and the fast lurch into horror territory of its sequel The Scorch Trials, this third entry jumps right into the action with a wild opening sequence that is like something out of Mad Max but with younger, cleaner heroes and robotic, stormtrooper-type enemy warriors.

If you have not yet seen the first two movies, definitely rectify that before watching the third, because Death Cure certainly assumes you are all caught up with the story of Thomas and his friends and their war against the mysteriously all powerful WCKD, a giant world-dominating corporation trying desperately to find a cure for the disease that essentially is turning mankind into mindless zombies. But WCKD is more than willing to sacrifice numerous innocent lives in its search for the elusive Cure, and Thomas is determined to stop them once and for all.

Dylan O’Brien stars in ‘Maze Runner: The Death Cure’.

In his third round as Thomas, Dylan O’Brien is a confident leader of the growing rebellion, fearless enough to lead a raid against a heavily armored and protected speeding train, and empathy and compassion that won’t let him move on with the other rebels once their base is discovered until he rescues his pal Minho (Ki Hong Lee) from the torturous labs of WCKD.

Of course he’s also itching to get back in touch with Teresa (Kaya Scodelario), the mysterious girl he met in the first film and who betrayed him in the second, but who he still has quite the hots for. In fairness, Teresa’s motivations are better revealed in The Death Cure as her way of doing what she truly believes is right to help save the world, making a mostly unlikable character at least more understandable.

Rosa Salazar is back as spunky Brenda, who doesn’t take any crap from anyone and fights hard to hide her attraction to Thomas, and (spoiler!) Will Poulter makes a welcome return as the tough and ready former semi-bad guy Gally.

Thomas Brodie-Sangster’s Newt really becomes the heart of the rebellion, a just reward for the third of three winning performances that have gradually transformed the character from almost blending in with the others in the first film to standing out and stealing scenes in this third one.

After escaping The Maze and surviving The Scorch, Thomas reaches the end of his run in The Death Cure, a fitting end to a highly entertaining trilogy.

Official Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Reviewed by: Matt Artz

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