Those looking for the ingenious blend of dark satire, melodrama sci-fi and horror that made Donnie Darko a cult classic will find The Box less than full but that doesn't mean it's empty. This is a far more coherent, and certainly more emotionally resonant, film than Kelly's last outing, rthe frustrating but fun and occasionally insightful, Southland Tales. Still Richard Kell's continued obsession with apocalypse, free will, and destiny is liable to strike some as a little self indulgent the third time out.
What would you do if a stranger showed up at your door and offered you a million dollars simply to push the button on top of an innocuous wooden box? The only catch is that someone, whom you don't know, somewhere in the world, will die. This is the question posed to the films central characters, who not only have to have to make that decision but have to cope with the tragic results. The resulting narrative contains all the symbols we've come to expect from Kelly. There are holiday themed characters tunnels of water, mysterious manuscripts and hints of divine judgement but if it all seems too far fetched there are also a pair of good performances from James Marsden and Cameron Diaz and an excellent turn from Frank Langella as the stranger with the box.
The audio commentary with Richard Kelly is great. he has insight into everything his story is about and unlike many directors often delves into themes and ideas. There are also several behind the scenes featurettes and an interview with living legend Richard Matheson who penned the original source material, the short story "Button Button" as well as the original novel "I Am Legend," "The Incredible Shrinking Man," and "What Dreams May Come."
I liked the film for all it's oddness - kind of up my street. There was a point while watching it though when I turned to my wife and said "The film could have ended there, that seemed to be the point" only to find out after researching it that one of the original versions did end where I remarked. I still find that Kelly's even more fantastical additions to the story to fit in with his interests worked really well for me and made for a still very human story that engaged my interest to the very end
Kelly's adaptation felt very true to a Richard Matheson tale. Ordinary people placed in extraordinary circumstances. Loving it... not loving the DVD art, though. I can't wait to hear his commentary track; he always has something interesting to say.