The Maze Runner made its entry into the pantheon of dystopian movies aimed at young adults (YA) last year. However, its sequel is somewhat lacking in comparison, most noticeably in terms of not featuring a maze, but also in terms of originality and character development.

The Scorch Trials picks up where the last film left off. It was revealed that the group of teens at the center of the story were being held in a maze full of monstrous machines as part of tests being carried out by shadowy scientific organization World Catastrophe Killzone Department (WCKD, pronounced "wicked").

WCKD wanted to study the immune systems of the kids in the hope of finding the cure to an epidemic that has turned many people into zombies.

A scene from Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials Photos: CFP

Safe and unsound

The sequel begins with the surviving main characters, who have just escaped from the maze, being taken in by what appears to be a rebel army.

They are offered a warm welcome with hot showers and food, and meet kids who have escaped from other mazes.

However it doesn't take long for Thomas (Dylan O'Brien), the skeptical leader of the group, to find that they are not yet off the hook with WCKD.

A kid called Aris (Jacob Lofland) warns them that they are to be taken to a lab, hung up and drained of their lives.

In horror, they go on the run and find themselves in a wasteland plagued by zombies.

Director Wes Ball stages a number of effective sequences in the wasteland with strong effects delivering scenes that are bigger and more exciting than those of the original film.

The zombies are creepy enough, and provide plenty of shocks. However, the film soon descends into a series of chases.

This holds fewer surprises than the first film, which held attention with the plot, attempts to solve the maze, and combat with deadly killing machines.

Lacking direction

By the second half of the film, the group has an objective to achieve. However, the film still feels rudderless due to the lack of urgency, motivation and character development.

The tension is also undercut by some clumsy light relief scenes. This includes one in which Thomas and Brenda (a new character played by Rosa Salazar) bump into hedonist Blondie (Alan Tudyk), take drugs and happen upon a rave.

The characters are given no further motivation, and there is no development of Thomas' character beyond the determination he showed in the first installment.

Teresa (Kaya Scodelario) comes to the fore toward the end when she takes an opposing stance to Thomas on a moral quandary.

However, lacking any foreshadowing, it leaves the audience with a bigger question regarding her sudden change in character.

All of this could have been avoided if more time were given over to character interaction rather than excessive zombie dodging.

A poster for the film

Everyone's a critic

GT: Where would you place this film among other YA hits such as The Hunger Games?

Sarah, 21, accountant

"I think it is a good adaptation and entry to this genre. I prefer the two Maze Runner films to The Hunger Games. The characters in the Maze movies are better. However, I'm disappointed to hear that the third book will be split into two films."

GT: Do you prefer this film or the prequel?

Shi Yue, 22, clerk

"I prefer the first one to the sequel. In this, the characters are on the run throughout the film until the final act, which makes for another routine zombie feature. The pleasures of solving the puzzle of the maze and having fantastic characters bonding together are gone."

GT: Do you like the hint of a love triangle between Thomas, Teresa and new character Brenda?

Yang Zhenting, 23, postgraduate

"I think this kind of thing is an indispensable part of all YA films. I am glad that the director didn't make it too obvious and awkward for the characters as in The Hunger Games. I hope to see the development of the emotional lines in the next installment."