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Poster for The Box

The Box

You are the experiment.

2009 · 1h 55m · PG-13 Science Fiction, Thriller
Directed by Richard Kelly

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Overview

Norma and Arthur Lewis, a suburban couple with a young child, receive a simple wooden box as a gift, which bears fatal and irrevocable consequences. A mysterious stranger delivers the message that the box promises to bestow upon its owner $1 million with the press of a button. However pressing this button will simultaneously cause the death of another human being somewhere in the world; someone they don't know. With just 24 hours to have the box in their possession, Norma and Arthur find themselves in the cross-hairs of a startling moral dilemma and must face the true nature of their humanity.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
43%
Tomatometer
Rotten

Kelly treats what is essentially a Stanford University psychology experiment with inflated somberness.

Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
Fresh

Is it an odd film? Certainly. Will it creep you out more than it engages you? Probably. Should we be rewarding folks who are willing to step out of bounds and make us think? Definitely.

Laremy Legel, Film.com
Fresh

While it's true that the film's sci-fi antics are far from watertight in the logic department, there's enough eccentricity and ambition at play to charm and bemuse in equal measure.

David Jenkins, Time Out
Rotten

Whatever you do, do not accept delivery of The Box, a package that doesn't know where it is going nor how to get there.

David Hiltbrand, Philadelphia Inquirer
Rotten

Kelly has talent, but for his next movie, he might try coming down to earth and forgetting about the people who control the lightning.

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

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