The Box (2009/I)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Richard Kelly

Writers (WGA):

Richard Kelly (screenplay)
Richard Matheson (short story "Button, Button")

Release Date:

6 November 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

You Are The Experiment

Plot:

A small wooden box arrives on the doorstep of a married couple, who know that opening it will grant them a million dollars and kill someone they don't know.

Plot Keywords:

Moral Dilemma | 1970s | Supernatural | NASA | Based On Short Story

US Showtimes:

The Bridge: Cinema de lux

1:05pm | 3:55 | 6:45 | 9:35

(personalize)

Cast

Cameron Diaz	...	Norma Lewis
James Marsden	...	Arthur Lewis
Frank Langella	...	Arlington Steward
James Rebhorn	...	Norm Cahill
Holmes Osborne	...	Dick Burns
Sam Oz Stone	...	Walter Lewis
Gillian Jacobs	...	Dana
Celia Weston	...	Lana Burns
Deborah Rush	...	Clymene Steward
Lisa K. Wyatt	...	Rhonda Martin
Mark S. Cartier	...	Martin Teague (as Mark Cartier)
Kevin Robertson	...	Wendel Matheson
Michele Durrett	...	Rebecca Matheson (as Michele Durett)
Ian Kahn	...	Vick Brenner
John Magaro	...	Charles

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, some violence and disturbing images.

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Finland:K-13 | UK:12A | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Australia:M | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba)

Filming Locations:

Boston Public Library - 700 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Darko Entertainment

Trivia:

Veteran character actor, Basil Hoffman, was also in the original version of this story when "Button, Button" aired on "The Twilight Zone: Profile in Silver/Button, Button (#1.20)" (1986).

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Moviemaking in Virginia: Take 3 (2008) (V)

Soundtrack:

Scarlet Begonias

Think Outside The Box

Richard Kelly's movies have a way of dividing people and "The Box" is no exception.

Fans of Richard Kelly see his movies to be surprised at the direction they take. His detractors are usually confused at the strange turns of events.

The plot is pretty straightforward. A man who is missing half his face leaves a box for a young married couple. If they push the button, somebody dies as a result. This takes up the first part of the movie. Obviously they should push the button. It is immoral. The remainder of the movie explains who the man with the box is and why he is doing it, and the consequences for killing someone. For me, this is what made the movie so good. It was totally off the wall and unpredictable. And at the end, it all made sense.

Cameron Diaz, James Marden, and Frank Langella all do a fine job of acting. Richard Kelly's directing is adequate but does not have a lot of visual style.

"The Box" is certainly not a movie for everybody. The ads are somewhat misleading. This is hard-core Sci-Fi and Horror, mixed with existentialism. For me, it is one of the best films of the year. If you are a fan of Richard Kelly or David Lynch, you will probably like it. Otherwise, it might not be for you.

For me, "The Box" is one of the best films of the year.