Review: Dave Made A Maze

There is a scrappy charm to Dave Made A Maze, a hilariously surreal indie that hits theaters and On-Demand today. It is easy to see the budgetary restraints filmmaker Bill Watterson and his crew were under, many of the sets are made of cardboard, and yet every frame of the film feels like it has hours of craft, talent and effort behind it. The film is about the frustration of creation whilst also being a perfect example of why creative endeavors are worth all the work.

Dave(Nick Thune) is an artist who has yet to complete anything in his life. His desire to complete something and that something to be good is what drives him to build a cardboard maze inside his apartment. When his girlfriend Annie(Meera Rohit Kumbhani) comes home, she finds him lost in his own creation. She tries to get him to just come out but he can't find an exit. She tries to tear the maze up but Dave cried out in anguish as if the whole thing will crush him. He begs Annie to help him finish this thing as he believes it will be something great and worth the pain of having all this cardboard in the apartment. Annie enlists Dave's best friend Gordon(Adam Busch) to help get Dave out of the maze. He soon invites a slew of friends and in no time, they all enter the maze in search of Dave.

Once in the maze, they realize Dave has truly created something special. The maze is much bigger on the inside, full of booby traps and is haunted by a minotaur. Annie, Gordon and the crew set off on an adventure to support their friend Dave in his pursuit for creative satisfaction. What ensues is a barrage of creative energy in the form of cardboard and yarn.

Dave Made a Maze features boundless imagination that is best manifested in its gorgeous set design. Working with limited space, Watterson and his team built two sets at a time and then recycled the materials to the next day's sets. Utilizing trick photography and stop-motion, the film creates a world in which what we create can truly take a life of its own on. The film even features an extended scene involving puppetry.

Thematically, the film wears its heart on its sleeve. There is no hidden message here. Screenwriter Steven Sears creates Dave as a surrogate for anyone who hasn't finished what they started, particularly in creative endeavors. The film packs a surprising amount of heart in its championing of the creative process and all the pain and joy that comes with it.

Bursting with imagination, humor and even a few scares Dave Made a Maze is one of the year's most unforgettable films. The ensemble cast serves the film fine but the real star is Watterson's energetic direction. I highly recommend the film to anyone but especially to those who feel they have yet to make that great piece of art they know is inside them. This film will speak to you.

4/5