Review of Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018) by Filipeneto — 29 Jan 2021

After two films, the trilogy is complete with this film, even though I have a feeling that there would be a willingness, on the part of the production, to make a fourth film. In any case, it was with pleasure that I decided to see this film. I still like it, but it was the film with the most flaws and weaknesses in the trilogy (or tetralogy?).

In this film, Thomas is still disappointed with Teresa and tries to overcome that. But the desire to save Minho and take revenge on WICKED is evident and leads him to take a dangerous path, which will lead him to the mouth of the wolf, to the headquarters of the organization that, in the name of good and medicine, seems to have totally lost the notion of ethics. It is a film that fits well with its predecessors and gives the trilogy a positive conclusion, if they decide to stop it here. In fact, I noticed the film does not seem to know if it is a continuation or the conclusion of a franchise. I still don't like zombies, I've never been a fan of zombies. The film has good scenes of action and suspense, the ending is really well done but, after a certain moment, drag on and lose the rhythm. I also noticed some flaws in logic and continuity, like the fact that Ava says the virus is aero-transmissible, and it just won't be said or developed later. And, for God's sake, how did so many healthy human people suddenly appear?

The cast is generally good. Dylan O'Brian is safe in his character, but there's not much more for him to show us that he hasn't shown before. Scodelario continues to shine and make an interesting character, more complex than he appears to be. Aidan Gillen was a sinister and inhuman villain. Thomas Brodie-Sangster receives additional attention and does his job in an excellent way. Ki Hong Lee disappears for much of the film, although his character is decisive in the plot. Giancarlo Esposito seems to be determined to win a Cavalry medal, because he always shows up to save his colleagues at the right moment. Rosa Salazar practically disappears from the moment the screenwriter decided that her character was not going to fit Thomas.

The film has excellent production values and there is a lot of money tied up in high quality CGI. The desert and inhospitable world seems great, and the city of WICKED is futuristic, elegant and of remarkable visual beauty. Infected human creatures, as I said, are the least positive thing and, in this film, they almost disappear from the scene. The film has excellent cinematography, is visually magnificent and makes the most of light and colors. The soundtrack also deserves mention. Composed by John Paesano, whom I did not know, it is an intense soundtrack, with an epic and deep sense.