The Box

Though Richard Kelly wowed everyone back in 2001 with Donnie Darko, it was still too confusing and ambiguous for some. Instead of addressing this with Southland Tales, Kelly went even further in terms of a screen play that was a myriad of plots and ideas and went on to become one of the worst reviewed films in recent history. Lessons haven’t been learnt with The Box. Based on the Richard Matheson short story (Button Button), Kelly’s film concerns a married couple who receive a box with a button in it and are told that if they press said button they will receive a million dollars, but somewhere someone they don’t know will die. It’s a great premise for a short story and a Twlight Zone episode, but stretching it out to a two hour feature film is a mistake. Ironically, the film starts to meander at the halfway point, just going to prove that this is better suited to the shorter treatment. The first half of the film is actually quite decent with the 1970’s setting being well conveyed and a sense of dread and unease leaking off the screen. How quickly it changes though. Once Kelly begins to tell the back story behind the box (which appeared to me to be a slight knock off of The Day The Earth Stood Still) all the tension dissipates amid some terrible direction and acting. At times it’s like watching the worst parts of The Happening and Oliver Hirschbiegel's The Invasion. Of the acting, Frank Langella escapes with his reputation intact, but Cameron Diaz and James Marsden struggle badly at times, especially in the more emotive scenes. There’s obviously some existentialism gumph going on here, but you’ll be too bored to address anything like that and instead will be counting down the minutes before this well below par episode of the X-Files ends.

The OC Film Sting Final Verdict
A decent start is quickly forgotten as the film slowly meanders down confusing plot cul-de-sac's coupled with some dire acting. Rating: 3/10.