Watch Dave Made a Maze

Dave Made a Maze is a quirky and inventive indie comedy-fantasy film from 2017, directed by Bill Watterson. The movie stars Nick Thune as Dave, a frustrated artist who's been struggling to find inspiration and direction in his life. One day, he decides to build a cardboard fort in his living room, but it quickly becomes clear that this isn't an ordinary fort - it's a maze.

Things start to get surreal when Dave's girlfriend Annie (Meera Rohit Kumbhani) comes home and finds him lost inside the maze. She tries to navigate her way through the labyrinth to find him, but soon discovers that the maze is much bigger on the inside than it appears from the outside. Dave has created a world of his own inside the maze, complete with booby traps, puzzles, and monsters.

The film is a blend of genres, combining elements of comedy, fantasy, and horror. The visual style is reminiscent of a handmade stop-motion animation, with cardboard, paper, and other materials used to create the maze and its inhabitants. The overall effect is whimsical and charming, with a touch of creepy horror that keeps the viewer on their toes.

As Annie navigates her way through the maze, she's joined by a group of Dave's friends who venture inside to help rescue him. Each of them has their own unique personality and skill set, adding depth and diversity to the cast. The friends include Gordon (Adam Busch), a practical and organized type who's in charge of the rescue effort, Harry (James Urbaniak), a film critic who's quick to provide sarcastic commentary, and Jane (Stephanie Allynne), a tough-as-nails adventurer who's unafraid to take on the maze's challenges.

As the group delves deeper into the maze, they face increasingly bizarre and dangerous obstacles. There's a giant origami bird that swoops down to attack them, a roomful of deadly paper airplanes, and a booby-trapped hallway that shrinks them down to miniature size. But the true threat to their safety might be Dave himself, who seems to be losing his grip on reality and becoming more and more obsessed with the maze.

The film is full of clever visual gags and wordplay, with plenty of Easter eggs and references for eagle-eyed viewers. For example, there's a parallel universe version of Dave who's building a maze out of wood, a nod to the classic Twilight Zone episode "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street." There are also jokes and references to other horror and sci-fi classics, like The Shining and Doctor Who.

But beyond the cleverness and humor, Dave Made a Maze also has a heartfelt message about art, creativity, and the human need for self-expression. Dave's maze is a metaphor for the artistic process, and the film explores the highs and lows of creating something new and meaningful. The ending is both satisfying and poignant, wrapping up the story with a message about the importance of taking risks and pursuing your passions.

Overall, Dave Made a Maze is a unique and enjoyable film that's sure to appeal to fans of indie comedies, surrealism, and DIY aesthetics. It's a fun and inventive adventure that's full of surprises, and it's sure to leave a lasting impression on viewers who are willing to dive into its cardboard world.

Dave Made a Maze is a 2017 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 20 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3 and a MetaScore of 60.