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Nicholas van Orton is portrayed as a solitary figure living in a lavish mansion outside San Francisco, where his success is overshadowed by personal disconnects. He is a divorced man with a strained relationship with his brother, Conrad, played by Sean Penn, who has been distant for years. The film opens with Nicholas's birthday, highlighting his loneliness, which is juxtaposed with the surprise appearance of Conrad.
During their meeting, Conrad presents Nicholas with an unusual birthday gift: a voucher to participate in an enigmatic game organized by a company named CRS (Consumer Recreation Services). Initially dismissing it as a prank, Nicholas is pressured into exploring the mysterious CRS office, which sets off a chain of events that spiral out of control.