The constant struggle between what is right and what is tradition is a constant theme throughout the new film, “The Maze Runner,” directed by Wes Ball. On one side we have the protagonist, Thomas, who is striving to find a way out of his confinement in “the Glade” (a futuristic city) and on the other we have Gally, the kid wishing to stay in the Glade forever. These two characters, the protagonist and antagonist, butt heads constantly over deciding what is right and wrong for the entire community.

The movie is based on James Dashner’s bestselling “The Maze Runner” trilogy. This film adaptation of the first book in the young adult series makes the story enticing for a wide range of moviegoers.

The cast of “The Maze Runner” includes MTV’s “Teen Wolf” star Dylan O’Brien, “We’re the Miller’s” Will Poulter, “Skins’” Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Sangster, Ki-Hong Lee, Aml Ameen, and Blake Cooper. No, it’s not an all-star cast, but that does not indicate the film’s quality. The portrayal of each character is amazing and the air of mystery is intoxicating.

You find yourself on your toes throughout every minute of the film, because in the Glade, anyone can die at any second. Not only is the suspense killing, the mystery behind the entire film captivated me until the credits began to roll. No one in the film knows why he or she was sent to live in the Glade. The characters do not have any memories of life prior to the Glade, and they only know their first name.

This mystery is of high importance for the protagonist Thomas. He starts to regain his memory while in the Glade, unlike the other characters. He starts out as a clueless newcomer, questioning who he is, and striving to find a way out of the Glade’s confinement.

The characters display madness throughout the progression of the film. For example, Gally always obeys the rules , and eventually this causes him to lose his sanity.

Overall, I would rate this film a 4.5/5 stars. From plot twists, to sudden death, to startling new characters, the movie kept me intrigued from start to finish and the acting is wonderful. O’Brien brings Thomas to life and Poulter portrays Gally as a great antagonist to Thomas. I encourage you to go see “The Maze Runner” as soon as possible and look forward to the next installment in the fall of 2015!