Escape Room: Tournament of Champions

Escape Room: Tournament of Champions isn't exactly victorious, but it doesn't lose the game, either.

If the Escape Room franchise has hit its ceiling, it is still far more engaging - and far more creative - than the horror films most multiplex audiences have to choose from.

As a pure dilemma-fest, the movie basically works, resetting the clock scene by scene, making the joy of survival deliberately short-lived. The suspense works.

You may not need another Escape Room but this new one is good enough to leave you wanting more.

The true star is the production design and extravagant traps. But the third act quickly rushes the familiar formula to dive into a lackluster finale that retreads the same story and retcons aspects from the first.

The best thing about the "Escape Room" film series is that it gives audience members clear directions in the title about what they should immediately do: Escape. Room.

More confident (and fun!) than the first film, but go with the Extended Cut over the Theatrical Cut, as it offers a more satisfying viewing experience.

If you’re looking for a good story, compelling characters, or any reason to care, then you’re probably not going to find it here.

It may not be gourmet cinema, but no cinematic diet is complete without at least a little junk food. And maybe it's the year away from cinemas talking, but Escape Room: Tournament of Champions is the tastiest cinematic junk food in quite a while.

In all honesty, the novelty of this premise has already worn off, but the movie never quite becomes the dull dud it should be.