Cube (1997)

Director:

Vincenzo Natali

Writers:

André Bijelic (written by) &
Vincenzo Natali (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

11 July 1998 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Stranger | Trap | Maze | Room | Escape

Awards:

13 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

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

Directed by
Vincenzo Natali

Writing credits
André Bijelic		(written by) (as Andre Bijelic) &
Vincenzo Natali		(written by) and
Graeme Manson		(written by)

Produced by
Colin Brunton	....	executive producer
Mehra Meh	....	producer
Betty Orr	....	producer

Original Music by
Mark Korven

Cinematography by
Derek Rogers

Film Editing by
John Sanders

Production Design by
Jasna Stefanovic

Art Direction by
Diana Magnus

Costume Design by
Wendy May Moore

Makeup Department
Susann Greenwood	....	hair stylist
Susann Greenwood	....	makeup artist
Louise Mackintosh	....	hair designer
Louise Mackintosh	....	makeup designer
Cheryl Ross	....	hair consultant
Patty White	....	additional hair stylist
Patty White	....	additional makeup artist

Production Management
William Phillips	....	post-production supervisor
Norah Wakula	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Oscar Fenoglio	....	second unit director
Jill Girling	....	second second assistant director
Sarah Jarvis	....	first assistant director: second unit
Sarah Jarvis	....	third assistant director
Deborah Kiss	....	second assistant director
Patrick Tidy	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Gene Alexander	....	property master
Peter Atto	....	art department assistant
Luke Ballon	....	daily carpenter
John Cameron	....	daily carpenter
Bob Ceh	....	scenic artist
Mario D'Amaral	....	art department assistant
Darren Doyle	....	art department assistant
Mike Fearnall	....	daily carpenter
Brian Fowler	....	head carpenter
Lino Frutti	....	daily carpenter
Rod James	....	daily carpenter
Brian Jones	....	daily carpenter
Marty Kay	....	daily carpenter
Dana Kearns	....	on-set props
Jane Kim	....	art department assistant
Cheryl Ladrillo	....	scenic artist
Allan MacIssac	....	daily carpenter
Joe Madziak	....	construction head (as Joe Madziuk)
Raoul Martinez	....	daily carpenter
Anastasia Masaro	....	assistant art director
Evelyn Mitsou	....	on-set props
Sue Motahedin	....	art department assistant
Mark Newman	....	art department assistant
Jesse O'Connor	....	daily carpenter
Hubert Peddle	....	first assistant carpenter
John Rice	....	daily carpenter
Grant Rowland	....	daily carpenter
Andrew Rucklidge	....	assistant art director
Greg Sigurdson	....	assistant art director
Cathy Smith	....	daily carpenter
Doug Stensrud	....	daily carpenter
Susan Tanton	....	scenic artist (as Susan E. Tanton)
Stephen Willetts	....	scenic artist (as Steve Willetts)
Jamie Williamson	....	art department assistant

Sound Department
Stephen Barden	....	sound effects editor (as Steve Barden)
Sue Conley	....	dialogue editor
Keith Elliott	....	foley operator
Keith Elliott	....	foley recordist
Walter J. Grabowski	....	foley operator
Walter J. Grabowski	....	foley recordist
Craig Henighan	....	sound effects editor
Dana Kearns	....	second boom operator
Peter Kelly	....	sound re-recording mixer
Darcy Kite	....	foley operator
Darcy Kite	....	foley recordist
Darcy Kite	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Laing	....	adr editor
Mishann Lau	....	assistant adr editor
Steve McNamee	....	sound recordist
Brian Myatt	....	second boom operator
Jeff Orr	....	boom operator: second unit
Jill Purdy	....	sound effects editor
Patricia Quintanilla	....	assistant dialogue editor
Michelle Schubert	....	foley artist
Greg Shim	....	adr re-recordist (as Greg Schim)
John Sievert	....	foley artist
Virginia Storey	....	foley artist
Brad Thornton	....	sound mix operator
Jeff Wachsmann	....	boom operator
Todd Warren	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Todd B. Warren)
Colin Woods	....	assistant dialogue editor
Mark Zsifkovits	....	sound mix operator

Special Effects by
Russell Cate	....	special makeup & physical effects: Caligari
Louise Mackintosh	....	special makeup & physical effects: Caligari
Raymond Mackintosh	....	special makeup & physical effects: Caligari (as Ray Mackintosh)

Visual Effects by
Lisa Bechard	....	digital effects producer: C.O.R.E.
Derek Grime	....	digital artist: C.O.R.E.
John Mariella	....	digital effects director
Moris Molino	....	digital artist: C.O.R.E.
Bob Munroe	....	digital effects director
Emily Roach	....	digital animator: C.O.R.E.
Costa Roussakis	....	digital systems guy: C.O.R.E.
Stephen Segal	....	digital effects producer: C.O.R.E.
Ralph Sevazlian	....	digital artist: C.O.R.E.
Brian A. Smeets	....	digital artist: C.O.R.E.
Claude Theriault	....	digital paint artist: C.O.R.E.
Yves Therrien	....	digital animator: C.O.R.E.
Tracey Vaz	....	digital paint artist: C.O.R.E.
David Willows	....	digital artist: C.O.R.E.
Dennis Berardi	....	digital film technician (uncredited)
Jamie Hallett	....	optical cameraman (uncredited)

Stunts
Regan Moore	....	stunt double
Regan Moore	....	stunt rigger
John Stoneham Jr.	....	stunt coordinator
Rebecca Stoneham	....	stunt double (as Rebecca Moore)

Camera and Electrical Department
Sandor Ajzenstat	....	grip
Matthew Brookes	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Stephani Buchman	....	electrician
Jason Capstick	....	daily grip
Michael Carry	....	daily grip
Dany Chiasson	....	second assistant camera
Scott Craven	....	electrician
Paul Gentleman	....	camera trainee
Michael Gibson	....	still photographer
Sophie Giraud	....	additional still photographer
Hugh Hardy	....	best boy grip
Brad Hopkins	....	grip: second unit
Paul Howden	....	grip: second unit
Jeremy Hudspith	....	gaffer
Don Irvine	....	grip
Andy Jekabsons	....	first assistant camera
Edmond Kopp	....	electrician
Patrick McGowan	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Mark McLean	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Todd Moore	....	grip: second unit
Brian Myatt	....	grip
Kevin P. O'Rourke	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Jeff Orr	....	daily grip
Kevin Richter	....	key grip
Derek Rogers	....	camera operator
Mark Ryan	....	grip: second unit
Craig Semenuk	....	grip
Scott Smith	....	camera operator: second unit
Scott Smith	....	director of photography: second unit
Barb Sniderman	....	grip
Barb Sniderman	....	grip: second unit
Christopher J. Toudy	....	daily grip (as Chris Toudy)
Juliet Wintrobe	....	camera trainee
Michael Yaremchuk	....	best boy
Jim Young	....	electrician

Casting Department
Deirdre Bowen	....	casting consultant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tamara Rigby-Funke	....	wardrobe mistress
Madelaine Vieira	....	wardrobe graphic designer

Editorial Department
Davina A. Bailey	....	apprentice editor
Elizabeth E. Bailey	....	apprentice editor
Jason PJ Deschamps	....	apprentice editor
Debbie Holland	....	video colorist
Chuck Kahn	....	apprentice editor
Frank Leone	....	color timer
Rob MacKinnon	....	first assistant editor
Mark Stokes	....	second assistant editor
Geoff Tunnard	....	first assistant editor
Wiebke von Carolsfeld	....	associate editor
Steve Weslak	....	consulting film editor
Catherine Rankin	....	negative cutter (uncredited)
Joanne Rourke	....	colorist (uncredited)

Other crew
Dennis Angel	....	title search and clearance: Joan Pearce Research Association
Monica Babic	....	mechanical effects: JJamb
Doug Barrett	....	lawyer: McMillan Binch
Lisa Burling	....	script supervisor
Diana Cafazzo	....	lawyer: McMillan Binch
Linda Darras	....	production secretary
Ion Dumitrescu	....	mechanical effects: JJamb
Hugh Graham	....	story editor
Michelle Howes	....	nurse
John Jackson	....	mechanical effects: JJamb
Lisa Jackson	....	on-set craft
Patricia Joyes	....	daily script supervisor (as Pat Joyes)
Rob Kingston	....	unit publicist
Deborah Kiss	....	production coordinator
Kim Kurchinsky	....	nurse
Samuel Lee	....	location production assistant
James C. Novak	....	business affairs: The Feature Film Project
Jae Pak	....	location production assistant
William Phillips	....	second unit supervisor
William Phillips	....	the door doctor
David W. Pravica	....	math consultant
Nick Seary	....	production accountant
Becky Slocombe	....	video sync transfers
Mari Vepsalainer	....	on-set craft
Patty White	....	key nurse on set
Justine Whyte	....	project manager: The Feature Film Project
Liz Wolfe	....	production assistant: second unit
Kevin Chassie	....	craft service (uncredited)

Thanks
Kelley Alexander	....	thanks
Melissa Amer	....	thanks
Shahin Assayesh	....	thanks
Dennis Berardi	....	thanks
Thomas Berner	....	thanks (as Tom Berner)
Bob Bonnell	....	thanks
Fred Brennan	....	thanks
Frank C. Carere	....	thanks (as Frank Carere)
Robin Cass	....	thanks
Semi Chellas	....	thanks
Milan Cheylov	....	thanks
Lorraine Clark	....	thanks
Wayne Clarkson	....	thanks
Carol Clusiau	....	thanks
Judi Cooper-Sealy	....	thanks (as Judy Cooper Sealy)
Kevin Crothers	....	thanks
Dr. Imre G. Csizmadia	....	thanks
Brock Davis	....	thanks
Lisa deWilde	....	thanks
Jenna Donohue-Bourdeau	....	thanks
Kathryn Emsue	....	thanks
Ron Estey	....	thanks
Alison Evans	....	thanks
John Fawcett	....	thanks
Karen Lee Hall	....	thanks
Steven Hoban	....	thanks
Lillian Hodge	....	thanks
Kim Hogan	....	thanks
Moira Holmes	....	thanks
Judy Holm	....	thanks
Jill Hopkins	....	thanks
Prof. Robert C. Jackson	....	thanks
Christina Jennings	....	thanks
Norman Jewison	....	thanks
Walter Klassen	....	thanks
Greg Klymkiw	....	thanks
Katherine Kossuth	....	thanks
Randy 'Shaky Boy' Koufalis	....	thanks
Lori Lansens	....	thanks
Steve Lucas	....	thanks (as Steven Lucas)
Allan Magee	....	thanks (as Al Magee)
Dezsö Magyar	....	thanks (as Dezso Magyar)
Negar Mahdavian	....	thanks
Julian Marks	....	thanks
Anita Mazic	....	thanks
Nasser Meh	....	thanks
Reza Meh	....	thanks
Jim Murphy	....	thanks
Andrei Natali	....	thanks
Enrico Natali	....	thanks
Francesca Natali	....	thanks
Gale Natali	....	thanks
Marica Natali	....	thanks
Nadia Natali	....	thanks
Peter O'Brien	....	thanks
Rose Orr	....	thanks
Jeremy Podeswa	....	thanks
Stephen Price	....	thanks
David Ransley	....	thanks
Ronald Sanders	....	thanks (as Ron Sanders)
Regine Schmid	....	thanks
Rachel Sutherland	....	thanks
Karen Walton	....	thanks
Elizabeth Yake	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Cube Libre
• Feature Film Project, The
• Harold Greenberg Fund, The
• Odeon Films
• Ontario Film Development Corporation
• Téléfilm Canada
• Viacom Canada

Distributors

• Trimark Pictures (1998) (USA) (theatrical)
• Eagle Pictures (1999) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Bandur Film (2000) (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Video (2003) (Canada) (DVD)
• Alliance Home Video (1998) (Canada) (video)
• Araba Films
• Cineplex-Odeon Films (Canada)
• Constantin Film (Germany)
• Divisa Home Video (2000-2006) (Spain) (DVD)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (France)
• Primer Plano Film Group (Argentina)
• Spentzos Films (Greece) (VHS)
• Tantra DMPC Ltd.

Special Effects

• C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures (digital effects and animation)
• Caligari (special makeup and physical effects)
• JJamb Productions (mechanical effects)

Other Companies

• Actra-CIPIP  thanks
• Amazing Food Service  catering
• Association of Canadian Film Craftspeople (ACFC)  thanks
• Blackhawk Studio  thanks
• By David's  catering
• CFTPA  thanks
• Canadian Film Centre (CFC)  The Feature Film Project is an initiative of
• Canadian Film Centre (CFC)  thanks
• Catherine Rankin Productions Ltd.  negative cutting
• Cine-Byte Imaging  digital transfer
• Cinequip  thanks
• Clairmont Camera  camera systems
• DGC & STVCQ  thanks
• DeLuxe Laboratories  special thanks
• Deluxe Post-Production  post-production facilities
• Dimensional  graphic engraving
• Dwight Crane Rentals  thanks
• Easy Feature - PAS  accounting software
• Emcil Business Services Ltd.  accounting software
• Film Effects  optical effects
• Film Effects  title design
• Film Inc.  on location supplies
• Harold Greenberg Fund, The  funding
• Hot & Ready  craft service
• Joan Pearce Research Associates  title clearance
• Joan Pearce Research Associates  title search
• KPMG  production auditor
• Lightsource  thanks
• Magnetic North, The  film to video transfer
• McMillan Binch  legal services
• Motion Edit Corp.  non-linear editing
• Motion Picture Bond Company, The  production guarantor
• Motion Picture Stunts International  thanks
• Motorola Ltd.  thanks
• Nabet/700  thanks
• One Hour for Lunch  catering
• P.S. Production Services  grip and lighting equipment
• Power Pictures  thanks
• Roots  boots
• Rosco Laboratories Ltd.  lighting equipment
• Scaffold Solutions Ltd.  thanks
• Sound by DeLuxe  post-production facilities
• Studios  media production (Yugoslavia)
• Thompson Thompson Entertainment Insurance Brokers  insurance
• Vibco  thanks
• Wallace Avenue Studios  studio facility
• William F. White International  additional camera and lighting equipment

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English | German

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:18 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:18A | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Mexico:B | New Zealand:M | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:18 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | Brazil:14 | Netherlands:16

Filming Locations:

Wallace Avenue Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Cube Libre

Trivia:

Director Vincenzo Natali directed a follow-up short film in which we see what is outside the cube. Natali has made a solemn vow never to reveal what was outside the cube, and destroyed the video years ago.

Goofs:

Plot holes: After you enter a new room, the chamber doors automatically spin their handles and close shut. There is a scene near the end where Quentin closes a chamber door himself while another character is talking. The director admits in the commentary that this is because that particular shot was done earlier in the filming before he decided they would close automatically.

Quotes:

Holloway: You've got a gift.
Leaven: It's not a gift. It's just a brain.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Weird Sex and Snowshoes: A Trek Through the Canadian Cinematic Psyche (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Distorted Reality

You ever get stuck in an elevator? Multiply that emotion by 1,000

Great. Another shining example of how my inadequacy in mathematics could be the end of me. I used to skip math class. I took the bare minimum requirement expected of me and passed with something less than flying colours. The point is, math is all that separates our "heroes" from certain death in this arena.

"Cube" is an innovative little thriller that can safely dodge accusations of blandness or mediocrity. The premise is simple and the plight of the characters is highly relative despite its surrealistic science fiction setting. Six individuals find themselves trapped in a cube comprised of many rooms linked together, with no readily visible way out, no rations, tools or explanation for being there, with traps set up in some of the rooms. An apparent experiment on how people think and react to certain situations and the transformations they might undergo.

The simplicity of the film and the cube itself are the film's strongest assets and can probably account for it's international success, notably in Japan. It's low budget production costs came under $400,000. But they got a really good bang for their buck with some help from special effects houses that provided their services free of charge. As the director has commented on the audio commentary track of the DVD, one aspect they were going for was a way to have an action flick in one room. They pulled it off quite nicely. Another interesting tidbit brought to light was that each character's name is after a prison.

A curious aspect of this Canadian film was its surprisingly short run in Canadian cinemas. In speaking with one of the film's producers, Mehra Meh, I learned that despite it's award as "Best First Feature" at the Toronto Film Festival of 1997, the film run in Canada came a year later and was just for a few short weeks before it was yanked from theaters and then showcased internationally. When time came for the DVD release, I found another perplexing development. It was only available as an import. A Canadian film only available as an import in Canada? It wasn't until months later that it was released domestically.

In any case, the film is available now and worth checking out if you have interest in the psychological thriller fare. Those who work their days or nights (or both) in a cubicle may wish to pass on this one, as it just might be too close to home.