Unfortunately, Nik Dodani and Jason Ellis-who respectively play clueless puzzle nerd Danny and hothead know-it-all Jason-are often loud and annoying. Still, that might be something you do while watching “Escape Room” given how threadbare the rest of the film is. If you’re like me, you probably don’t watch movies like “Escape Room” and “Saw” for their characters or performances. But then the suite’s door handle breaks, their disembodied host’s voice disappears (surprise: she was a recording!), and a powerful convection oven-style heater turns on. They follow her instructions and exchange introductory pleasantries. A woman’s voice tells them to wait to be seen. Six thrill-seekers pile into the waiting room of a non-descript Chicago office building. “Escape Room” also feels pretty schematic since very few plots twists serve to develop the film’s cipher-like characters. Sadly, “Escape Room” is only longer and more impersonal than what came before it.
That wouldn’t be a problem if there were other major differences between “Escape Room” and the “Saw” sequels. But “Escape Room” is also anemic compared to the “Saw” movies, as you might imagine based on the film’s comparatively weak PG-13 rating. “Escape Room” has a handful of enjoyably bonkers moments, most of which involve nonsensical death traps.
