Horror Movie News Report
Ryuhei Kitamura’s Labyrinth received a mixed assessment from Dread Central following its screening at FrightFest, with the outlet describing the film as a heavily Saw-influenced maze thriller that stands out primarily for its gore, brisk pace, and cast performances.
The film begins with several unrelated strangers being abducted before moving to a maze-like facility. Once there, the group awakens without any memory of how they arrived. An announcement informs them that they must overcome a series of obstacles to earn their freedom. The tests are connected to the participants’ past crimes, which are gradually revealed as they attempt to navigate the facility.
According to Dread Central’s review, Labyrinth closely follows the structure associated with the Saw franchise and makes little effort to conceal that influence. The review suggests that viewers who enjoy Saw may find the film appealing, while those who dislike that series are unlikely to respond favorably. It also characterizes Labyrinth as one of the stronger films in the Saw-inspired field, despite its lack of a particularly original premise.
The review highlights the film’s graphic violence, noting that its apparent lack of plans for a wide U.S. theatrical release meant the filmmakers did not need to shape the material around securing an R rating. The death sequences are described as especially effective within the film’s premise because many of the characters are being punished for earlier crimes.
Dread Central also praises the ensemble, identifying Mekhi Phifer as the group’s unofficial leader, Shane West as a dangerous figure who torments the others, and Alexxis Lemire as a police officer whose approach to justice differs from the rest of the group.
The review is less positive about the screenplay and structure. Labyrinth runs for 90 minutes, and Dread Central says its rapid progression sometimes makes the film feel hurried. The outlet also found some plot developments difficult to follow, particularly after supernatural elements appear late in the story. That shift was viewed as an attempt to distinguish the movie from Saw, but the review questions whether it arrives too late to fit smoothly into the narrative.
Dread Central ultimately awarded Labyrinth a 3.0 rating, calling it an energetic but familiar entry in the maze-and-trap horror cycle.
