The Box [Blu-ray] [2009]

The Box [Blu-ray] [2009] review

Scott Winters, Cameron Diaz, Frank Langella, Michael Zegen, James MarsdenDirector: Richard Kelly

Synopsis
Screen siren Cameron Diaz and former X-Man James Marsden star in the supernatural horror picture The Box (2008), directed by DONNIE DARKO cult favorite Richard Kelly. The film's premise involves a strange and ominous box granted to a young couple by a mysterious stranger (Frank Langella). They are informed that pressing various buttons on the box will grant them riches while killing a person unknown to them in the process. Executive produced by Ted Hamm, the film was adapted by Kelly from Richard Matheson's 1970 short story 'Button, Button'.

Customer Reviews

Boxing Clever?
A facially disfigured man named Arlington Steward (played by the impressive Langella) turns up at a young couple's house and offers them a choice: ignore the box he had previously delivered, or open the box with a key, hit a red button and they will receive 1,000,000 dollars tax free. The catch is that if they push the red button, someone somewhere will die. Not something that most of us will experience in our lives I would imagine.

Its all set in the seventies and as a period piece it delivers very well. The ethical maze the couple go through is interesting, but it all gets a bit confusing when the film attempts to explain Mr Steward's modus operandi (something to do with being hit by lightening and acting as an agent for some unspecified superiors), especially as there are vague but apparently meaningless references to the Viking probe's mission to Mars.

Its quite a clever story, but at the time of watching it I saw too many imperfections to completely wow me. That said, I kept thinking about it time and again over several days and that counts for a lot for a movie these days.

The Box [Blu-ray] [2009] Directed by Richard Kelly Price: £7.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Delivery. Details Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk 34 new or used available from £4.85 Average customer review:

click here to see best price & review more