My standards and expectations for low-budget horror/Sci-Fi movies from the early 50s are generally set quite low, but William C. Menzies' "The Maze" was an astonishingly pleasant surprise from all possible angles. The script, adapted from a novel, maintains a high and uncanny level of suspense throughout, the mysterious atmosphere actually works, the set-pieces and scenery (notably the titular maze) are eerie, and the performances of the ensemble cast are far above average. And then, yes, there's the ending. Say what you want about the ending, that it's goofy and utterly implausible, but it's undeniably also unique and unseen in the world of horror. Some people hate it, most people make fun of it, but I - for one - really appreciated the climax. Usually when a film keeps on building and building up the mystery, the denouement cannot live up to the expectations, but that's certainly not the case here.
