A live mystery competition tied to a feature film is offering U.S. participants a $25,000 prize, with the first clue concealed inside "The Man With the Silver Case," a black-and-white neo-noir thriller written and directed by Colin Best. The competition, titled "What's In The Silver Case?", requires players to watch the film before they can enter — the opening clue is embedded in the film itself. Those who solve it register at lookagain.la, after which the hunt moves off screen and into the streets of Los Angeles.
The film follows a nameless Man in Gray, played by Stuart Reid, who is hired to deliver a mysterious silver case for a shadowy organization. Handcuffed to it and pursued by people willing to kill for it, he takes refuge in a safe house, drawing an unprepared family into the danger he carries with him. The film co-stars Lara Marian and Tom Ohmer and features a soundtrack ranging from Sonny Rollins to The Cure's "A Forest" and the Grateful Dead's "Dire Wolf." It was shot in 19 days on a single camera during the coldest Swiss winter in 20 years, with the lead performing his own stunts in freezing conditions — including a helicopter jump — on a budget described as less than that of a car commercial. The film was released by Freestyle Digital Media and is currently streaming on Prime Video and free on Kapang.
Up to 50 finalists will qualify for an in-person three-day finale in Los Angeles from October 28 to 30, 2026, with the winner expected to be announced on October 30. Players may compare notes on released clues, but each participant must personally complete every step. The contest is open only to legal U.S. residents aged 18 or older, runs through October 30, 2026 at 11:59:59 p.m. PT, and is sponsored by MWSC, LLC, with Promosis, Inc. serving as administrator. No purchase is required to enter or win.
"The Man With the Silver Case" is Best's feature directorial debut. He is also a musician and hotelier, and in 2016 he produced "The Black Jacket," a vérité documentary about a former Black Panther working to change the violent mindsets of influential gang members in South Central Los Angeles.
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