Nemesis Game (2003)

Director:

Jesse Warn

Writer:

Jesse Warn (writer)

Release Date:

16 September 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

The only thing more terrifying then playing it...is winning

Plot:

An introspective university student with an unhealthy interest in riddles and puzzles becomes involved in a sinister mind game that results in murder.

Plot Keywords:

Riddle | Game | Student | Mind Game | College Student

Awards:

4 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Carly Pope	...	Sara Novak
Ian McShane	...	Jeff Novak
Adrian Paul	...	Vern
Rena Owen	...	Emily Gray
Brendan Fehr	...	Dennis Reveni
Jay Baruchel	...	Jeremy Curran
Vanessa Guy	...	Marie
Eve Crawford	...	Lea
Richard Fitzpatrick	...	Tom
Ron Pardo	...	News Anchor #1
Tony Munch	...	Bearded Man
Michael Kinney	...	Doctor
Philip Williams	...	Police MC
Victor A. Young	...	Professor (as Victor Young)
J.C. Kenny	...	Reporter #2
Paul McGuire	...	Reporter #3
Wendy Petrie	...	Reporter #1
Brian Rhodes	...	Security Guard
David Pauls	...	Officer

Directed by
Jesse Warn

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jesse Warn		writer

Produced by
Suzanne L. Berger	....	producer
Peter Block	....	executive producer
Alex Brown	....	executive producer
Chris Brown	....	executive producer
Jason Constantine	....	associate producer
Steven Hoban	....	executive producer
Matthew Metcalfe	....	producer
Noah Segal	....	executive producer
Anna M. Stuart	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Matt Fletcher
Haim Frank Ilfman		(music scored by) (as Frank Ilfman)

Cinematography by
Aaron Morton

Film Editing by
Bruce Lange

Casting by
Nancy Botting-Harrison
Robin D. Cook
Daniel Hubbard

Production Design by
Peter Cosco

Art Direction by
Greg Chown

Set Decoration by
Peter Atto
Jon Beer
Bruce Graydon
Craig Harris
Kent McIntyre

Costume Design by
Shelley Mansell

Makeup Department
Barbara Barkey	....	key makeup artist
Paul Jones	....	special makeup effects designer
Danielle Lee	....	key hair stylist (as Danielle Goldschlager)

Production Management
Chris Foss	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Catherine Gourdier	....	second assistant director
J. Elizabeth Marsh	....	trainee assistant director
John Rainey	....	first assistant director
Anthony Tedesco	....	third assistant director

Art Department
David Chevalier	....	assistant art director
David Gunson	....	storyboard artist
Tyler Unrau	....	assistant property master

Sound Department
Stephen Cabana	....	boom operator
Mathew Knights	....	sound re-recording mixer
Richard Welsh	....	dolby sound consultant
Jeff Wilston	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Scott Chalmers	....	special effects technician
Dave Fulton	....	special effects key
Paul Jones	....	special makeup effects designer
Jeff Skochko	....	special effects coordinator

Stunts
Alison Reid	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Jason Marlow	....	assistant camera
Cameron McLean	....	steadicam operator
Gottfried Pflugbeil	....	first assistant camera
Kirsta Teague	....	assistant camera
Caley Wilson	....	best boy grip

Animation Department
Larry Adlon	....	animator: on-set monitor displays

Casting Department
Nicole Hilliard-Forde	....	casting associate

Editorial Department
Alfredo Frasson	....	color timer
Luis Freitas	....	assistant editor
Gord Ventura	....	dailies colorist

Music Department
Nicola Fletcher	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Robert Carter	....	driver

Other crew
Lesia Capone	....	production coordinator
Dan Gosse	....	production assistant
Brian King	....	assistant location manager
Soo-Won Lee	....	script supervisor
Brandon Long	....	location manager
Anthony Paniccia	....	assistant accountant
Stephen Paniccia	....	production accountant
Jillian Sabean	....	assistant production coordinator
Claire Smith	....	production assistant
Derek Ursacki	....	daily accounting assistant
Brian Walden	....	head of production: New Zealand

Production Companies

• Lions Gate Films
• Emily Gray Productions Ltd.
• Paper Pictures Inc.
• Scissors Stone Productions Ltd.
• Studio Eight Productions

Distributors

• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Arkles Entertainment (2004) (New Zealand) (all media)
• Media Cooperation One (MC-One) (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (2005) (Brazil) (all media)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• Albatros Film (2007) (Japan) (DVD)
• Eagle Films (2003) (Non-USA) (all media) (middle east)

Other Companies

• Film Finances Canada  completion guarantor
• Lions Gate Entertainment  artwork and design dvd cover

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language

Runtime:

USA:92 min

Country:

Canada | New Zealand | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Germany:16 | UK:15 | Singapore:PG | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-15 | Netherlands:16 | Canada:14A | USA:R

Filming Locations:

New Zealand

Company:

Lions Gate Films

Trivia:

The subway station in the movie is an abandoned station at Bay Street on the Toronto subway. At one time it was used when trains switched from the Bloor-Danforth line to the Yonge line. When that was discontinued because of switching problems, the station was abandoned. The Toronto Transit Commission rents it out for movie shoots such as this. At one point it had been made to look like a New York subway station and the TTC wished to keep it that way. However the fire department vetoed that because the material used in the "disguise" presented a fire hazard.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The destination "linen" on the subway trains clearly read OUT OF SERVICE.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Jeff Novak:[entering interrogation room] Hi Emily. Didn't need to be like this, did it?
Jeff Novak:"Emily Gray. First class artist, high school. Graduated Vancouver." Everything seems to have gone along swimmingly until 1995. Then, 1996 comes along, and wow. You tried to drown a little boy in a lake, out of the blue. You served 5 years on that, you're out for only one, and then this mess. You want to tell me what's going on? I mean you do right? I mean that's why you confessed. I'm all ears, Emily? If you've got something to say, let's hear it. What - the hell - happened?
[...]

Movie Connections:

References Heavy Gear (1997) (VG)

Soundtrack:

Nothing

Much Better Than Expected

I originally rented this direct-to-video film because it stars one of my favorite actors (Adrian Paul). I expected this cheesy boring film that would be average. Instead what I found was a movie that kept me guessing until the very end. The film has a superb ending and good acting all the way around. Sarah Novak is a fan of riddles. When she stumbles across a game where riddle after riddle are solved for fun, she gets herself in over her head when the game turns deadly. The 'Nemesis Game' as it comes to be called is supposed to end with one final riddle. If the player gets the riddle correct and writes the answer on the wall, then they are shown 'the design' of the game; a design that is supposed to make them insane. I know, I know the story sounds weird and stupid. But I assure you this is a fabulous film. It opens kind of slow but you must give it a chance to get going. Once it does, it doesn't let go. This very unique plot and inventive ending leave you wanting to know more of story at the end. At the end it leaves you saying 'wow.' This film is highly recommended.