Cube (1997)

6 complete strangers of widely varying personality characteristics are involuntarily placed in an endless maze containing deadly traps.

Director:

Vincenzo Natali

Writers:

André Bijelic (as Andre Bijelic), Vincenzo Natali

Stars:

Nicole de Boer, Maurice Dean Wint, David Hewlett

13 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Nicole de Boer	...	Leaven
Nicky Guadagni	...	Holloway
David Hewlett	...	Worth
Andrew Miller	...	Kazan
Julian Richings	...	Alderson
Wayne Robson	...	Rennes
Maurice Dean Wint	...	Quentin

Storyline

Six different people, each from a very different walk of life, awaken to find themselves inside a giant cube with thousands of possible rooms. Each has a skill that becomes clear when they must band together to get out: a cop, a math whiz, a building designer, a doctor, an escape master, and a disabled man. Each plays a part in their thrilling quest to find answers as to why they've been imprisoned.

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Plot Keywords:

maze | trap | escape | red light | labyrinth | 

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Taglines:

Fear... Paranoia... Suspicion... Desperation

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some strong sci-fi violence/gore and language

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English German

Release Date:

11 July 1998 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

El cubo

Filming Locations:

Wallace Avenue Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD 365,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$57,147, 13 September 1998, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$501,818

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cube Libre, Odeon Films, Ontario Film Development Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Director Vincenzo Natali originally wanted to shoot the film in chronological order, but had to disregard this idea because the doors on the cubes weren't working right.

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Goofs

Throughout the movie they are told to suck on the buttons from their shirts. In one scene, once Holloway climbs into the next room, Quentin is sucking on his button. He immediately speaks to Worth, muddling some words because of the button in his mouth. All of a sudden, the button disappears from his mouth and is in his hand again, and he then puts it back into his mouth.

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Quotes

Leaven: This room moves to 0, 1, and -1 on the X-axis, 2, 5, and -7 on the Y and 1, -1, and 0 on zed.
Quentin: And what does that mean?
Leaven: You suck at math.

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Connections

Referenced in Wrong Turn 3: Left for Dead (2009)

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Soundtracks

David Torn
(Q-up Arts)

User Reviews

Mindbendingly excellent flick...

This is art. Plain and simple, art. This film reminds me of Memento, a very low-budge film that is better than 95% of the high-budge films out there. Why? Because it relies on the story and the quality of acting to make it great, not C.G.I. and overpaid mainstream actors. Not only is it a well presented thriller, it's also a study of the breakdown of human emotions and sanity when kept in solitude outside of one's comfort zone. The cube tests the characters' ability to function and work together in alien territory while in constant imminent danger. This is just a brilliant film made by a brilliant writer/director. This movie is a must for any lover of psychological thrillers. - Rob