The Kovak Box (2006)

A sci-fi writer (Hutton) is invited to an island for a conference, only to discover that he's been lured into a trap.

Director:

Daniel Monzón

Writers:

Daniel Monzón (screenplay), Jorge Guerricaechevarría (screenplay)

Stars:

Timothy Hutton, Lucía Jiménez, David Kelly

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Timothy Hutton	...	David Norton
Lucía Jiménez	...	Silvia
David Kelly	...	Frank Kovak
Georgia Mackenzie	...	Jane
Gary Piquer	...	Jaume
Annette Badland	...	Kathy
Iván Morales	...	Charlie
Colin Stinton	...	Encargado Consulado
Nicholas Boulton	...	Funcionario Consulado
Jeff Harding	...	Gerente Sanatorio
Jorge Bosch	...	Forense
Luis Callejo	...	Encargado Cuevas
Daniel Strauss	...	Médico Silvia (as Dan Strauss)
Molly Malcolm	...	Psicóloga
Keith Bartlett	...	Admirador

Storyline

A sci-fi writer (Hutton) is invited to an island for a conference, only to discover that he's been lured into a trap.

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Plot Keywords:

hand tattoo | flying on a airliner | rapid eye movement | street musician | laughing at a horror movie | 

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Taglines:

You're trapped... and you don't even know it.

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Genres:

Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some violent and disturbing content, language and brief nudity

Did You Know?

Goofs

(at around 42 mins) The amount of froth in David's bottle varies during his conversation with Silvia at the bar.

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Quotes

David: You said Jane didn't commit suicide.
Silvia: I know I did not jump through this window, but I don't know what really happened.

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Connections

References Nanook of the North (1922)

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Soundtracks

Serial Blues
Written by Roque Baños
Performed by Isis Montero Expósito, Raúl Martínez Cathcart, Marcos Collado Fernández, Vicente Borrás Roig and Manolo Marí Riera

User Reviews

A Taut Thriller That Keeps Circling the Viewer's Mind Through a Maze

THE KOVAK BOX is a successful little suspense/psychological thriller from the Spanish writers Daniel Monzón (who also directs) and Jorge Guerricaechevarría. The story may be a bit far fetched, but then what horror story isn't? The premise for the tale holds up well and is aided by some very fine performances by a mixture of Spanish, English, and American actors. The mood of the film is beautifully set during opening credits by a complex maze in which a white rat sniffs and ambulates from confusing corner to confusing wall - just the manner in which director Monzón plans to tell his story.

David Norton (Timothy Hutton) is a celebrated science fiction novelist visiting Majorca for a special conference accompanied by his soon to be fiancée Jane (Georgia Mackenzie). David has been having premonitions on his flight to the conference and those brooding thoughts continue as he registers for the conference and finds little disturbing clues that culminate in Jane's suicide leap from their hotel balcony. Almost simultaneously an attractive Spanish girl Silvia (Lucía Jiménez) in the same hotel 'jumps' from her balcony but is saved from death by falling onto an awning. Jane dies in the hospital: Silvia is in the bed next to Jane, witnesses David's grief, and the beginning of a bond is created.

David meets a strange old man Frank Kovak (David Kelly) who seeks an autograph of David's first novel 'Gloomy Sunday' and from there the mystery begins. David becomes the unknowing main character in a sci-fi story that mimics ideas from his own first book, a story about the implantation of devices in humans that would enable a central force to assist the victims in their own destructive ends. The plot is tightly woven from this point on and to reveal any portion of it would diminish the chair-gripping finale.

Timothy Hutton seems an odd choice for the main character of the film until his combination of cool intellect and understated passion clicks in. The film is graced by the presence of the talented Lucía Jiménez who seems to have the potential of becoming another Penelope Cruz! The cinematography by Carles Gusi and musical score by Roque Baños make the setting visually and aurally spectacular. For those who enjoy mind bender thrillers, THE KOVAK BOX will certainly please. Grady Harp

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Spain UK

Language:

English Spanish German

Release Date:

12 January 2007 (Spain)

Also Known As:

A Caixa Kovak

Filming Locations:

Madrid, Spain

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,078,762

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmax, Estudios Picasso, Castelao Producciones

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1