The 2014 film “The Maze Runner” became a major hit, despite its small budget, thanks to its fast-paced plot and mysterious atmosphere.

Based on a popular YA dystopian novel, the film led to two sequels. Building on the success of the first film, the production moved forward with “Maze Runner: Scorch Trials.”

Male protagonist YA dystopian work

At a time when YA dystopian works with female leads, such as “The Hunger Games” and “Divergent,” were gaining popularity, “Maze Runner 2: The Scorch Trials” stood out with Thomas, a male protagonist. The first installment mainly featured Teresa as its only significant female character, but this film brings more women into important roles, shifting the story away from its earlier male-centric focus.

The Hunger Games. Survival Game of Life and Death

The story is about a survival game called “Hunger Games,” in which a few wealthy people control the country and use the poor to relieve discontent. It is interesting to see the tactics outside of the games, such as gathering sponsors, appealing to the audience, and sales activities for the games.

Previously, the organization “WCKD (World Catastrophe Response Division)” remained mysterious. In this film, however, its presence and motives become clearer, making the story feel more typical of a YA dystopian work. At the same time, an increase in romantic elements—common in YA trilogies—brings the series further into alignment with standard genre formulas. Nevertheless, these changes do not erase its uniqueness; the story’s world and style remain distinct.

The truth behind the mysteries from the previous film gradually comes to light.

Continuing the emphasis on mystery established in the first film, “Maze Runner: Scorch Trials” strengthens this aspect even further. Much of the intrigue centers on the characters’ memory loss, particularly that of Thomas and Teresa. As this sequel gradually reveals their memories, the group inches closer to the truth, deepening the mystery and providing even more enjoyment for fans of the genre.

To better understand the change in threats in this film compared to the first, it’s useful to recall how, in the previous installment, the maze itself served as an enclosed danger.

On the other hand, I was disappointed that the absence of mazes in this film caused it to stray from the title. It’s not that there is no running at all, but, in comparison, I believe the appeal of the previous film was largely due to the sense of speed as the main characters ran through the mazes and the moments when you couldn’t help but sweat as you watched them. Losing that was a big blow, I felt. As a result, the scenes of the characters fleeing through deserts and darkness feel visually repetitive, and they’ve lost some of the appeal of the previous work.

A post-apocalyptic world of overwhelming scale, unleashed from a closed maze

In the previous film, Thomas and his friends managed to escape from the huge, closed maze known as “The Maze.” However, peace did not await them outside. Instead, “Maze Runner 2: The Scorch Trials” shifts the setting to the vast, desolate desert region known as “The Scorch,” as indicated by its subtitle, drawing viewers into an extreme survival scenario. Here, crumbling skyscrapers, ruins buried in sand, and the infected “Cranks” roaming the area define the landscape. The post-apocalyptic world, reminiscent of a desolate open-world game, maintains a constant sense of tension throughout the film.

New elements added to zombie movies

Adding to the sense of danger, what makes this apocalyptic world feel even more real and terrifying is the presence of infected people called “cranks.” Their threat was depicted in the previous film, but in this film, their appearance, movements, and behavior patterns are explored in greater depth, greatly increasing the level of terror.

The “cranks” are depicted as being quite different from traditional zombies, which are often portrayed as mere “moving corpses.” These creatures (I am using personal pronouns because they still retain some humanity) pursue Thomas and his companions with astonishing agility and ferocity. This is reminiscent of Danny Boyle’s film “28 Days Later…” Additionally, their bodies, like in ’28 Days Later…,’ have mutated due to the virus, occasionally exhibiting bizarre, inhuman abilities.

However, the true horror lies in the fact that they are not portrayed as completely devoid of rationality. Depending on the progression of the infection, they occasionally reveal faint remnants of their human memories and emotions, which not only evoke a physiological sense of revulsion but also confront the viewer with profound pity and the theme of humanity’s loss. They are not merely pursuers but essential symbols of the collapse of this world and the tragedy brought about by WCKD, giving the story an indispensable presence.

In the previous film, there was a single mission to “escape from the Cleaver,” but in this sequel, the additional element of “escaping from the Crank” has been introduced. Furthermore, the classic zombie movie trope—where humans bitten by a Crank become Crank themselves—combined with the pandemic movie aspect where the source is an infectious disease, has been newly incorporated.

When considering the depth of the story and its message, it is only natural that these elements are added, and they have a positive effect. On the other hand, it is undeniable that some of the good aspects of the first work, such as its sense of speed and handmade feel, have been lost. Additionally, since this is the second installment of a trilogy, it neither resolves the mystery elements nor provides sufficient setup for the next installment. This leaves me with the honest impression that the satisfaction level from a single work is low. This is a common occurrence in the second installment of a trilogy, but here, the lack of elements strong enough to break through that barrier is disappointing. Compared to the first installment, there is an undeniable sense of momentum being lost.

Non-stop action and anticipation for the next installment

The film features a variety of action sequences that leave no time to catch your breath, including intense chases across vast deserts, thrilling scenes of characters racing through buildings on the brink of collapse, and desperate escape scenes amid raging sandstorms. The depiction of the desert is harsh and unforgiving, further emphasizing the characters’ determination to survive.

On the other hand, the “lack of explanation” characteristic of the second installment cannot be denied. While many mysteries are introduced—such as the true purpose of WCKD and the full extent of the virus infection—clear answers are carried over to the next installment. Therefore, those who have not watched the series or have not watched the previous installment in a while may find some parts a bit unfriendly.

However, this frustrating situation, where “the answers will come in the next installment,” is precisely what stimulates the viewer’s curiosity about what comes next, strongly drawing them into the series as a whole. Acting as a bridge between installments in the ‘Maze Runner’ series, this film effectively sets the direction for the future story, expands the world-building, and heightens anticipation for the next chapter, making it a remarkable achievement.

Summary: An intermediate work that raises expectations for the next installment

The movie “Maze Runner: Scorch Trials” is a dystopian film aimed at young men. As the second installment in a trilogy, it may have some unresolved elements, but the mystery elements intensify, bringing us closer to the truth, and elements of zombie and pandemic films are added. Compared to the previous film, which focused solely on the adventure in the maze, the world has expanded significantly. To fully enjoy the final installment, take the time to explore the expanded world of Thomas and his companions in this film.