The Maze Runner (2014): A Thrilling Puzzle That Finally Caught My Attention
As a movie lover, there’s one thing I don’t do which is to watch a movie that has so much hype the moment it’s released. In the moment where everyone is hyping the movie, it just turns me off from even seeing it. Most times I end up watching the movie after all the noise has died down.
But this time around I guess I decided to try something different. The Maze Runner was released way back in 2014, and though I had always heard about it being one of those big YA movies like The Hunger Games, I never really bothered to check it out. I kept seeing clips from it recently on TikTok again especially those dramatic scenes where the maze closes in or the Grievers come out at night. Then one of my friends was like, “Wait, you’ve never seen The Maze Runner? You’re missing out!” And just like that, I gave in.
So over the weekend, I finally sat down to watch it. And here’s what I think about this movie that everyone keeps bringing up every now and then.
THE PLOT
This movie follows the story of a young boy named Thomas, who wakes up in a mysterious elevator with no memory of who he is or how he got there. He soon finds himself in a place called "The Glade" a grassy area surrounded by giant walls, inhabited by other boys who also arrived in the same way, one by one, over time. The only way out is through a massive maze that surrounds the Glade, and no one has ever made it out alive.
Each day, a few brave boys called Runners explore the maze, trying to map it out and look for an exit. But the maze isn’t just a puzzle it changes every night and is patrolled by deadly mechanical creatures called Grievers. When Thomas arrives, things begin to change. He feels a strange connection to the maze and breaks all the unspoken rules leading to discoveries, betrayal, and chaos. The Gladers must now decide whether to stay in the only “safe” place they’ve known, or take the risk to escape the maze and face whatever is out there.
MY THOUGHTS AND RATING
Honestly, I get the hype now. I’d rate The Maze Runner a solid 8/10.
The story was gripping from the very beginning. I loved how the mystery unfolded slowly like we the audience were just as clueless as Thomas. That “what the hell is going on?” energy kept me hooked throughout. The action scenes were intense, especially the ones in the maze. And the Grievers? Creepy AF. The visuals and effects still hold up pretty well even in 2025.
That being said, I do feel like some of the characters could’ve been developed more especially the ones like Teresa or Newt. And while I get that it’s based on a book, I kind of wish they explained more of the backstory in this first movie instead of waiting for the sequels. But I guess that’s part of the strategy to keep you curious and watching.
Would I watch it again? Yes. Would I cry? No. But it definitely had me on edge. So yeah, The Maze Runner may have taken me years to finally see, but it was worth the wait. If you’re into sci-fi, survival, or dystopian chaos, give it a go.
All images are from IMDb