The Maze Runner, which came out in theaters last Friday, is the latest book-to-movie adaptation to hit theaters.

This young adult science-fiction thriller, written by James Dashner, is set in the distant future. It is kind of like Lord of the Flies meets The Hunger Games. Thomas, with no memories except for his name, finds himself inside a gigantic maze with dozens of other teenage boys. The boys have been in the maze for three years and have been sent a new boy, with no memories, each month. Thomas shakes things up when he shows up in the Glade, the center of the maze. The time to find the exit is running out. Will they escape?

By itself, the movie is OK. It is clearly different from other young adult movie adaptations that have come out recently, like The Hunger Games and Divergent. Unlike both of those, The Maze Runner is not a romance, it is darker and more serious than other popular dystopian fiction stories. It is thrilling and suspenseful. It will throw you through loops as you try to figure out what will happen and then be dumbfounded by an unexpected event.

Some critics do not like the ending because it may seem confusing or nonsensical. The next installment, due to start filming in a month, should answer and explain those questionable moments.

Fans of the movie who have not read the book like the simplicity of it; there are not a bunch of random details thrown around or a rushed complex introduction or back story. The audience knows as much as the main character and learns as he does. Some actually like the ending, because you are as confused as the main characters by the events that unfold.

As a book-to-movie adaptation, this movie is a success. It keeps true to the character development, plot and themes of the book. The production team made good choices on what details to exclude from the adaptation and what pieces to enhance. Just like the book, the movie ends in a state of suspense, leaving the viewer excited and eager to see what happens next.

The cast is comprised of good up and coming young actors. The cinematography is great, emphasizing the complexity of the maze. The character of Teresa seemed a little flat in the movie; people who have read the book can see her character and understand it, while first-time viewers may see her as more one-dimensional.

The production is respectful of the book and can stand alone as a movie. The movie has left some of the audience wanting to read the books to know what happens next, but it does not require its viewers to have read the book beforehand.