HURON — Sure, you’re smart - skilled even. But can you solve it?
“Solver” is a new mystery-adventure film, drawn from today’s world of puzzles, treasure hunts and escape rooms, and has been described as “the most intriguing puzzle movie,” to come along in years.
Solver plays a limited number of theaters nationwide and is planned for digital release on iTunes and Amazon on Jan. 29 - National Puzzle Day. It will debut tonight in Sioux Falls and there will be a screening in Huron at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 25. It is also tied to a special social media thread, Solver Puzzle Hunt.

It stars John Ruby, Kerry Knuppe, and Antonio Jaramillo. Knuppe has a connection to South Dakota, having been born in Hot Springs and graduating from Custer High School.
While the film’s content is all-ages, the world of Solver isn’t for everyone, cautions writer-producer Jack Kelley. “Our fans tell us they’re disappointed with formulaic Hollywood filler. They’re intelligent, hungry for an experience that’s challenging and meaningful. They love exploring this world we created, and appreciate the craft, detail, and thoughtfulness that went into it.”
Solver tells the story of Luke, a young professional whose grandfather disappears under strange circumstances. Arriving at his grandfather’s remote cabin in upstate New York, he discovers a series of clues and puzzles, each more baffling than the last. With the help of a woman from his past and an eccentric sidekick, he must unravel the puzzle before someone else gets to the dark secret it hides.
“Escape room fans really find themselves at home here,” says Ruby. “You learn to appreciate puzzles, where they came from, who made them.”
The Solver Puzzle Hunt is a new type of experience that combines independent film and gaming. Drawn from the world of puzzles, mysteries, and escape rooms, the game sets up the characters and conflicts of “Solver.”
The Solver Puzzle Hunt features unique puzzles created by leaders in the community such as Breakout Games, the largest escape room company in the U.S., ClueKeeper, a clue hunt app, Jodi Jill, founder of National Puzzle Day, SCRAP Entertainment, Geocaching, the world’s largest treasure hunting game, and Dr. Scott Nicholson, director of BG.