Nothing speaks to anxiety quite like racing against the clock. It doesn’t have to be anything drastic like what we’re talking about here with escape rooms. Full disclosure: I've personally never done one. I came close to doing the Jigsaw one at New York Comic Con back in 2017 but was discouraged by the line. For as long as I can remember, board and video games with a countdown element both have always brought out the anxious overdrive in me. Growing up one of my favorite games was Rugrats: Search for Reptar on the PlayStation. The object of that game is to complete multiple minigames in order to get clues to discover the whereabouts of Reptar. The majority of the games were set to a timer. Every time, even coming back as an adult, I had high levels of intense anxiety rising as those clocks ticked down. 

Even board games trigger me. Don’t get me wrong I really do love games, but it’s the same kind of thrill I imagine that comes with roller coasters or hunting. Recently, my wife and I had a game night with a couple from our church. As fellow cinephiles, of course we turned to the latest addition of the Blockbuster Game. Incidentally, that is a truly fun party game, I cannot recommend it enough. But a portion of that game comes up against a timer in order to test your movie knowledge. One person goes against another, armed with a common theme to see who can name the most movies. It’s truly exhilarating. But something about going against that timer turns my brain to jelly. I sincerely hope I’m not the only one in that train of thought.

Video and board games hold nothing to the level of anxiety for escape rooms. As I previously mentioned, I have never done one. However, I have lived vicariously through the Saw films and the original 2019 Escape Room. For its 2021 sequel, Escape Room: Tournament of Champions, original characters Zoe (Taylor Russell) and Ben (Logan Miller) return to hunt down the creator of 2019’s game, only to be tricked into another escape room as they race for their lives. Tournament, much like its predecessor, feels like a kiddie glove variation of Saw. Viewers are introduced to characters who have some commonality between them. Tournament comes across very formulaic in its delivery. Sure, there are a few moments that truly do draw you to the edge of your seat. But those moments are few and far between.

Much like its 2019 elder sibling, viewers are introduced to a crop of characters with little to no development. The only character who actually feels fleshed out is Russell, but you only get that development due to the events of the first film. The nice thing about Tournament is that you don’t really need to have seen the first film - in theory. The dynamic between Miller and Russell is enhanced by seeing the first film, but it’s not necessarily something you have to see. The prologue to the movie is a flashback sequence that recaps the first film, kind of like they did in some of the old Friday the 13th films. It’s a nice feature for anyone reading this right now who hasn’t seen the original Escape Room. 

The ending of the first film transforms thanks to the driving character force of Russell and Miller. Though the use of its mythological elements are treated like an afterthought: the second film hinges so heavily on the trap dynamic that it completely forgets about the antagonistic threat which plagues the heroes. Not to mention that the entire first act is so heavily glued to the villainous organization behind the games; by the time we get into the labyrinth of escape rooms, they completely disappear. Tournament operates as if it has two competing storylines fighting for the attention span of the viewers. Fans of the original one came for the traps. They aren’t necessarily going to care about the villains. 

We are also given barely any reasons to care about them. They have a few mentions in the final moments of the film but mostly find themselves a footnote on the overall narrative. Once again, for pacing we are sentenced to high intensity because of the games. Issues aside, Tournament manages to conjure up some decent pacing, while simultaneously giving the audience some truly satisfying horror moments through the games. This is where the film is at its strongest. Sure, the acting is okay and the direction is nothing special. The games and puzzles that litter throughout the movie are its saving grace. It is what will bring fans of the original back.

Overall, Escape Room: Tournament of Champions is a mediocre sequel to a fairly bland predecessor. Tournament is sure to satisfy fans of the original, but mostly proves it is a niche film. The narrative is messily delivered with competing narratives. The games remain the highlight of the film thanks to underwhelming characters. Probably the most frustrating thing about the movie is its misuse of mythos. The film attempts to build up its antagonist but fails miserably. What begins as a compelling danger becomes nothing more than an annoying afterthought. Escape Room: Tournament of Champions is a decent attempt at a Saw love letter, but if you want my honest opinion: just go watch Spiral.

RORSCHACH RATING:

Mental Health Moment: While I do have my issues with the film, I do respect its demonstration of realism through Russel’s character. In the original film, her character struggled with PTSD following the loss of her mother in a plane crash. Here in Tournament she experiences a new sense of trauma following the events of the 2019 movie. Following the opening recap, the movie opens up on a therapy session. The first step towards recovery is getting the proper help. I want to encourage anyone reading this right now to take that first step if you’ve experienced anything traumatic, especially if it has caused depression, suicidal thoughts, or anxiety. There is help out there for you. Consider our resources. Help is here for you.

If you or someone you know is reading this right now and struggling with suicide, depression, addiction, or self-harm - please reach out. Comment, message, or tweet at us. Go to victimsandvillains.net/hope for more resources. Call the suicide lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Text "HELP" to 741-741. There is hope & you DO have so much value and worth!

Victims and Villains is written (and produced) by Josh "Captain Nostalgia" Burkey and others, and edited by Cam Smith. Music by Mallory Johnson and others. Escape Room: Tournament of Champions is property of Sony and Columbia Pictures. We do not own nor claim any rights.

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