Dan's Movie Reviews: The Box

The first thing you must know about The Box is that it is not at all what you think it is AT ALL. Forget what various summaries tell you. It is actually a very strange movie that has a strong ‘50s sci-fi feel, even though it takes place in 1976. (This movie is actually based on a Twilight Zone episode, "Button, Button".) It tells the story of a down-on-their-luck couple (Cameron Diaz and James Marsden) who receive a box containing a giant red button. The next day, they are paid a visit by a Mr. Arlington Stewart (Frank Langella), who gives them an offer: press the button and some random anonymous person in the world will die, and they will be given $1 million. (I forgot that a million dollars was a lot of money in the '70s.)

The second thing you should know is that Frank Langella is an absolutely menacing “antagonist”; aside from the giant scar on his face, he is a very cold, mysterious figure. He is definitely one of the more memorable movie villains this year. Diaz and Marsden are good, but not as compelling as Langella.

This is the first Richard Kelly movie I've ever seen, which is why I was so flabbergasted after it ended. I've never seen Donnie Darko or Southland Tales, so I'm unfamiliar with his directing style. However, he is definitely a director I shall get into in the near future.


OVERALL: This is definitely one of the more entertaining movies that came out this year, and I would definitely recommend you go see it.


RATING: 4 out of 5