The Box (2009)

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.

Director:

Richard Kelly

Writers:

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

Stars:

Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, Frank Langella

6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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	...	Wendell Matheson
Michele Durrett	...	Rebecca Matheson
Ian Kahn	...	Vick Brenner
John Magaro	...	Charles

Storyline

Norma and Arthur Lewis, a suburban couple with a young child, receive a simple wooden box as a gift, which bears fatal and irrevocable consequences. A mysterious stranger delivers the message that the box promises to bestow upon its owner $1 million with the press of a button. However, pressing this button will simultaneously cause the death of another human being somewhere in the world, someone they don't know. With just 24 hours to have the box in their possession, Norma and Arthur find themselves in the cross-hairs of a startling moral dilemma and must face the true nature of their humanity.

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Plot Keywords:

moral dilemma | nosebleed | alien | library | supernatural power | 

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Taglines:

All you have to do is push the button.

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Genres:

Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

On the commentary of Tony Scott's Domino (2005), director Richard Kelly outright dismissed shooting a 1970s period piece with a digital camera. However, after seeing David Fincher's Zodiac (2007), Kelly's position quickly changed, and he was quoted saying, "It can be done."

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Goofs

Multiple times a map is show with a portion labeled CENTCOM. US Central Command was not established until 1983, while the film takes place in 1976.

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Quotes

Arthur Lewis: You never really believed in Santa Claus, did you?
Walter Lewis: Not really. You should've come up with a better story than a fat guy coming down the chimney. It's so illogical.
Arthur Lewis: And illegal.
Walter Lewis: It's breaking and entering.

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Connections

Features The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)

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Soundtracks

Can't You See
Written by Toy Caldwell Jr. (as Toy Caldwell)
Performed by The Marshall Tucker Band
Courtesy of Shout! Factory

User Reviews

5.5/10 Is the Perfect Rating

If you have nothing else to chose, watch it. The Box is, debatably, the best 5.9 or less out of 10 movie. Once a movie is below 6, chances are, it's not good. However, this movie is creepy, strange, intriguing, has a jump scare (!), and makes you think. I had to finish it because I wanted answers. There are countless movies that I have felt forced to finish out of necessity to have questions answered, and been disappointed. This is a movie I was forced to finish, and while not thrilled with the conclusion, certainly still felt satisfied for having finished it. It's one of those rare movies you will probably not love, but will gladly rewatch it if somebody asks.

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros. Wild Bunch Distribution [France]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 November 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Box

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,571,417, 8 November 2009

Gross USA:

$15,051,977

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$33,334,176

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Radar Pictures, Media Rights Capital (MRC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1