The Box: Film Review

Richard Kelly directs his fifth movie "The Box". Let's get right into it. This movie is flat out infuriating. I hated it. I can't remember the last time in recent memory I was so angry after watching a movie. This could have been so much more, but every opportunity to make the story cool was squandered or missed completely. This could have been a really great tale of morality, but instead it turns into a weird sci-fi adventure that makes so little sense to me I could scream. Honestly, I expected a lot more from Kelly.

The premise of this movie is great. But, in my opinion, it would have worked much better as a slow burn than...whatever the hell it ended up being. We've got this idea where the main characters are given a choice: press a button, and someone will die but you get a million dollars out of the deal. Put that question in front of most people, and they're going to have some thinking to do. That's exactly why this movie would have worked as a slow burner. Pose the question to the characters at the beginning, and have a discussion about what the hell it means to kill someone, and then make the decision about the button.

See, we've got a great idea that should lend itself to really deep discussion between the characters about what a life is worth, do we have the right to play God, having the money would pay off our bills, but is it worth it if we've got this moral black cloud hanging over our heads? It should lend itself to all of this, but it doesn't. Instead, we're shown all the wacky conspiracy theory ramifications of making such a decision. Now, showing the ramifications is a fine, and even wise concept to tackle, but here it's done in such an over the top, weird, and unnecessary way that it negates the whole concept.

What would have made this movie work for me is the presentation of the box, and the question. Follow this by a discussion between the characters. Finally, they'll have to make a decision; I say they should press the button. The third act can, and should be the consequences of pressing the button. Perhaps the person killed is someone they know; perhaps they find the money isn't worth it. Who cares? Anything would have been better than what we have here. When Cameron Diaz is the only bright light in a movie...we're in trouble. Don't see this.