DVD Reviews

The Box – DVD Review

By Jeff Swindoll Feb 27, 2010, 15:31 GMT

$Push a red button on a little black box, get a million bucks cash. Just like that, all of Norma (Diaz) and Arthur Lewis\'s (Marsden) financial problems will be over. But there\'s a catch, according to the strange visitor (Lagella) who placed the box on the couple’s doorstep. Someone, somewhere – someone they don\'t know – will die. Cameron Diaz and James Marsden play a couple confronted by agonizing temptation yet$

Push a red button on a little black box, get a million bucks cash. Just like that, all of Norma (Diaz) and Arthur Lewis\'s (Marsden) financial problems will be over. But there\'s a catch, according to the strange visitor (Lagella) who placed the box on the couple’s doorstep. Someone, somewhere – someone they don\'t know – will die. Cameron Diaz and James Marsden play a couple confronted by agonizing temptation yet ...more

"I'm sorry Mr. Lewis, the button has been pushed."

Richard Matheson wrote a marvelous short story called the Box, but director Richard Kelly didn’t want to be boxed in by that and used it as a jumping off point for his film. Donnie Darko fans might be delighted, but most others will be scratching their heads.

In 1976 Richmond, Virginia, Norma (Cameron Diaz) and Arthur (James Marsden) Lewis hear their doorbell ring at 5 am. They sleepily answer the door and find a package on the doorstep, their son Walter (Sam Oz Stone) wonders if Christmas has come early. When they pen the package they find an expensive card with the mysterious note saying that “Mr. Lewis will be there at 5 pm.”

They also find a strange box with a button on top, a button with a locked dome on it. Their days go on and strange things start to happen, most of them will put the family in dire need of money.

When 5 p.m. comes around, Arlington Steward (Frank Langella) arrives, on the button, to discuss the meaning of the box with Norma. Steward is a man with half a face; his deformity puts Norma in mind of her own as she is missing some toes from an accident in her teens.

He explains that if the Lewis’ press the button that someone they don’t know will die, but they will get one million dollars, tax free. They have 24 hours to decide if they’ll press the button for the money, but once the button has been press more sinister things will happen to the couple.

I guess it’s not a spoiler to tell you that the button is pressed, but maybe it should not have been. The Box is ostensibly based on the 1970 short story Button, Button by Richard Matheson. It was adapted into an episode of the Twilight Zone in 1986 when that series was revived. Matheson loathed that adaptation enough that he substituted his name for a pseudonym.

I would gather that he’s either mellowed in his later years or that he has not seen Kelly’s new film as they actually use his name. This new film has more in common with that Twilight Zone episode than the short story (even Basil Hoffman who was in that show has a cameo in the movie).

I’d imagine that Kelly was more inspired by watching that show and then running it through his Donnie Darko lens. The short story is more suited for a half hour running time and much as to be added to draw it out into a film. Doing that is where the film stumbles.

The film does have some good casting in the form of Frank Langella, who plays his character with a sinister majesty and a creepy bit of digital makeup. Since the film is set in Virginia, Cameron Diaz is saddled with a down home Virginny accent that doesn’t help her character.

The “management” behind the box is never much explained in Matheson’s story and in doing so is where Kelly falters. This explanation made me think that the film fits into his Donnie Darko universe. That film has its admirers and detractors and depending which you consider yourself this will certainly influence your take on the film.

I liked Donnie Darko, but I had to temper that with the tampering and stretching done with Matheson’s story. Whatever admiration I had for Darko didn’t translate into the Box (I hate being boxed in [insert rimshot here]) and the good parts of the film (Langella) were outstripped by the odd (sci-fi weirdness, messing with Matheson, bad accent).

The Box is presented in anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) and is enhanced for 16x9 televisions. The only special feature is a 5 minute set down with the legendary Matheson. It’s introduced by Kelly, but he’s the only one who talks about the movie as Matheson tellingly doesn’t mention it and sticks to his writing and short story.

The Box starts off well, but stumbles when it moves away from Matheson’s story and attempts to show you who is behind the Box. Langella is an actor of caliber and adds some to his sinister role, but it’s not enough to keep you from pushing the button.