Last City | Kevin Barrett's Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Last City’

Running To the End

Posted in General Comments, Movie Review, Movies, Reviews, tagged Aidan Gillen, Barry Pepper, Blade Runner, Children of Men, Dr. Ava Paige, Dylan O’Brien, Flare virus, General Comments, Giancarlo Esposito, Gladers, Kaya Scodelario, Last City, Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018) — movie review, Movie Reviews, Patricia Clarkson, Reviews, Right Arm Resistance, Rosa Salazar, Strong Movie Recommendation, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Walton Goggins, WCKD, Will Poulter on October 19, 2025| Leave a Comment »

“Maze Runner: The Death Cure” (2018) — movie review
Today’s review is for the third episode in the dystopian action thriller franchise, titled: “Maze Runner: The Death Cure” (2018), starring Dylan O’Brien as Thomas (a former Glader turned resistance leader, still haunted by betrayal and loss), Kaya Scodelario as Teresa (a scientist whose divided loyalties drive the film’s central moral tension), Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Newt (Thomas’s closest friend, whose fate becomes the emotional fulcrum), Rosa Salazar as Brenda (a fierce fighter and Thomas’s romantic anchor), Giancarlo Esposito as Jorge (a smuggler with flexible ethics), Will Poulter as Gally (reappears, but instead of a hardline enforcer, fearful of change and quick to scapegoat Thomas, he’s now a leader in the revolution against WCKD), Patricia Clarkson as Dr. Ava Paige (the morally ambiguous head of WCKD), Aidan Gillen as Janson (a ruthless enforcer with a personal vendetta), Barry Pepper as Vince (leader of the Right Arm resistance), and Walton Goggins as Lawrence (a scarred rebel with a messianic streak).

Background: I watched this film to complete the trilogy. I’ve seen the earlier entries, and while I wouldn’t call myself a YA fan, this series is starting to bring me around (for entertainment value, not for cinematic value). I like O’Brien’s work so far in this franchise and I was curious to see how the franchise would play out its final installment. This was my first viewing of the film (and series). I watched this film with very tempered expectations — hoping for franchise closure, not mythic brilliance. The second film in the trilogy was less original than the first, but it was more “open” (outside of the maze) and therefore “felt” more interesting (to me) in terms of franchise development.

Plot: The film opens with a high-stakes train heist as Thomas and his crew attempt to rescue Minho, who’s been captured by WCKD. Their mission leads them to the “Last City” — a fortified urban stronghold where WCKD is conducting experiments to find a cure for the Flare virus. As Thomas infiltrates the city, he confronts Teresa, who believes her research could save lives, and Janson, who sees the “immune” as expendable. (The “immune” are those born with a natural immunity to the virus.) Newt’s deteriorating health adds urgency and heartbreak, culminating in a tragic sacrifice. The climax involves a chaotic uprising, collapsing infrastructure, and a final escape that leaves Thomas with both victory and loss. The film closes with a voice-over epilogue (Newt’s last letter to Thomas) and a beach-side memorial, offering a bittersweet sense of resolution.

So, is this movie any good? How’s the acting? The filming / FX? Any problems? And, did I like / enjoy the film? Short answers: Yes (mostly); solid performances; visually competent; a few narrative stumbles; yes – more than I expected.

Any good? Yes. It’s a competent finale that tries to balance action / spectacle with character closure. The emotional beats (especially Newt’s arc) land with sincerity, and the pacing — while occasionally uneven — keeps the story moving. The film doesn’t reinvent the genre, but it respects its characters enough to give them meaningful exits. It’s not profound, but it’s not too lazy either.

Acting: O’Brien carries the film with a mix of gritty leadership, determination and on-your-sleeve vulnerability. Brodie-Sangster’s Newt is the emotional heart — his final scenes are quietly moving. Scodelario’s Teresa is more nuanced here, though her motivations still feel unclear. Salazar adds spark as Brenda, and Esposito brings charm to Jorge. Clarkson and Gillen play their roles with icy detachment. Pepper’s Vince is mostly functional — a plot device more than a character. An interesting point to mention is this installment was delayed for over a year due to an injury to O’Brien during the filming of a stunt. Apparently the injury was serious enough to end production until he was fully recovered.

Filming / FX: The visuals are polished — urban decay, sterile labs, and explosive set pieces. The Last City is rendered with scale and menace, and the action sequences (especially the train heist and final escape) are well choreographed. The FX are frequent and effective: collapsing buildings, viral mutations, and gunfights. The film’s aesthetic blends “Children of Men” plague / health with “Blade Runner” urban dystopian survival.

Problems: Several. The plot leans on familiar genre tropes — rogue agents, secret cures, last-minute rescues. Teresa’s redemption arc feels unlikely, and Janson’s bad-guy villainy is cartoonish. The emotional beats work (mostly), but the dialogue occasionally slips into YA melodrama. Also, the idea that Thomas survives multiple near-death encounters without lasting injury strains credibility – but then, he IS the hero of the series. (Not to mention the “real life” accident which delayed filming.) Finally, the epilogue — really fails to explain a lot of things. Why was Thomas working with Teresa for WCKD? What does “WCKD” stand for? What were they doing? Why didn’t anyone test Thomas to see if he (or any of the “immunes”) was the cure they were seeking. Were runners the best serum makers? If yes, why weren’t they separated out for preservation / protection instead of endangered in the Maze? If the virus was airborne, how was anyone safe, anywhere? The character Gally, gets speared in the original movie, but he’s okay in this third film? As unrealistic as it sounds, he was rescued and saved! Now, that’s stretching credibility!

Did I enjoy the film? Yes. I appreciated the attempt to give characters closure and the willingness to embrace loss. It’s not “entertaining” in the traditional sense I’m used to watching (action and superheroes), but it’s a competent finale. It made me think about sacrifice, loyalty, and the cost of institutional decay.

Final Recommendation: Strong recommendation (more for the series than this film) — While definitely not a standalone movie, I found this episode to be the best of the trilogy – especially for viewers who’ve followed the trilogy. “Maze Runner: The Death Cure” is not “great”, but it’s a film that tries to honor its mixed genre (action, sci-fi, a little horror), characters and themes. If you’ve come this far in the franchise, this film (more or less) finishes the journey. If you haven’t seen the earlier entries, go back and start at the beginning or this film won’t make a lot of sense.

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