Screenplay writers Bragi F. Schut and Maria Melnik created a psychological horror film that might make one rethink the innocent fun behind games. Escape rooms are games in which a player or players must solve a series of puzzles or riddles to earn their freedom from a locked room. Sounds thrilling, right? Some of us, if not all, have watched movies and felt like we were right there with the characters, experiencing the adrenaline while trying to unmask a killer or solve a mystery. These attractions can be found worldwide, and they make you the stars of your own show, but there are two films (so far) that explore how these harmless games turn deadly.
The first Escape Room film was released in 2019, and the prequel, Escape Room: Tournament of Champions, was released in 2021. So far, each movie has ended with a cliffhanger, especially the prequel. Both films did exceptionally well, and now we’re begging for more, but will our calls be answered? In an interview with EW, Escape Room director Adam Robitel said:
Escape Room: Tournament of Champions had a production budget of $15 million, and the movie made $51.9 million when released. That was a significant decrease compared to what the first movie made, but the necessary bucks were earned, and with a dedicated fan base, part 3 is sure to be a success.
The Films’ Diversity Deserves Recognition
Sony Pictures Releasing
The first Escape Room was a hit among watchers due to its unique plot, fast-paced scenes that captivated viewers, and the creative and beautiful rooms designed for murder. With only $9 million as the budget that gave us such an entertaining film, it went on to earn a whopping $155 million. More so, it deserves a round of applause for a truly diverse cast of talented actors such as lead star Taylor Russell (as Zoey Davis), Nik Dodani (as Danny Khan), Deborah Ann Woll (as Amanda Harper), and Logan Miller (as Ben Miller). We live for such diversity because it gives many of us ordinary folks the chance to see ourselves represented on screen. We can truly feel connected with a movie when characters are believable not only with their acting but also in the language they speak, their culture, and their race depicted.
Adam Robitel had this to say about the diverse and inclusive cast while talking to Houston Chronicle:
Escape Room: Tournament of Champions remained true to Robitel’s belief and included new casts members such as Indya Moore (who is trans and Puerto Rican/Dominican), Carlito Olivero (who is Puerto Rican/Mexican), and Anton David Jeftha (who is South African). It goes without saying that with a cast so talented and colorful, a director so dedicated to delivering the very best to his audience, and viewers who feel included, Escape Room deserves its spot as a trilogy.
Why Escape Room 3 is Needed
Sony Pictures Releasing
Let’s say it together, “Sony Pictures, we need Escape Room 3 after that ending in Tournament of Champions!” The minds behind the two-part movie pushed the limits of psychological and physical torture, and we want more. We won’t give too much away, but Zoey, the main character’s attempt to unmask Minos, the organization behind the inhumane and murderous game, bared fruit during the second movie. We saw where the ending of the first movie was brilliantly tied in with the second and that Zoey and Ben (Logan Miller), believed to be free, were still in the clutches of Minos.
The second film went more in-depth about the Minos organization and the twisted minds behind the torture rooms, and Zoey and Ben came close to ending their reign. Perhaps the third movie won’t close with another cliffhanger but with resolve, and we’re hoping to learn more about the private spectators that watch the escape room contestants struggle to stay alive. Who watches such horrific games?
Tournament of Champions also revealed that Minos is capable of turning anything, even a seemingly ordinary subway car, into a death trap, so without a doubt, part 3 will introduce new and complex traps designed to torture Zoey, Ben, and other unfortunate souls unlucky enough to fall under Minos’s radar. It’s not often we get psychological films that really push us to think, and so far, Escape Room has delivered.
