When Thomas (Dylan O’Brien), wakes up trapped in a massive maze with a group of boys in an area known as the Glade, he is unable to remember any details from his past. Almost immediately, Thomas is thrown into the temporary society that the inhabitants of several dozen teens have created, even though every boy in the maze suffers from the same state of amnesia. Only by piecing together fragments of his past with clues from both the maze and the arrival of Teresa (Kaya Scodelario), who is the first girl to have ever been brought into the maze, can Thomas hope to uncover why he has been placed in the maze, a way to escape, and also how to survive an army of giant mechanical creatures lurking in the shadows. The Maze Runner is based upon the best-selling novel by James Dashner.

Director, Wes Ball, maintains an energetic pace throughout the film, continuously adding to the background of each character as well as unraveling new information regarding their purpose in the maze. The movie provides many emotional threads, as well as a satisfaction versus determination-type theme. There are several likable characters, a thoughtful drama, and a highly engaging sci-fi idea that underscores the film’s own originality. Even though there are many similarities to the dystopian society and storylines of the popular Hunger Games and Divergent series, the sense of familiarity is actually quite reassuring. The fact that the storyline is familiar rather than original is what makes the movie consistently engaging, although it is not too difficult to predict the ending.

Furthermore, fans of the book are in for surprises because of the many significant changes made to the narrative. However, I feel that the movie depicts the larger story in a way that still captures the major plot points as viewed in the book. The same tension and suspense felt in the book is definitely carried into the movie as each scene brings an energetic vibe to the table. Each character is similarly portrayed as they were in the book which adds to the key points in putting the movie together. The mysteries brought upon by the maze, and the larger picture is revealed in a steady, yet satisfying stream. Also, the movie ultimately and wisely saves the intense suspense for the final, which quickly leaves the viewers wanting more.

Dylan O’ Brien was a brilliant choice for the portrayal of Thomas. He plays the excellent mesh of personality, blending a terrified and timid state at the beginning of the movie to the ultimate, courageous hero in the end. His emotion is projected onto the audience immensely, leaving everyone feeling for his character. O’Brien and Aml Ameen, as Alby (the leader of the Gladers), anchor the young ensemble with fine performances, accompanied by stellar support from Ki Hong Lee as Minho (fellow Glader), Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Newt (second-in-command of Gladers), and Will Poulter as Gally (Thomas’s first enemy). However, I thought that Kaya Scodelario’s character, Teresa, is noticeably short-changed and didn’t fulfill her role quite as I expected.

Overall, this blood-pumping thriller is quite the catch. Even though I have read the book, Ball kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. The movie is incredibly engaging and left me, as well as the rest of the audience, delighted with the outcome and excited for the sequel, The Scorch Trials.