The Box (12A) Rating: 3/5
THE Box is a cautionary tale, adapted from the short story Button, Button by Richard Matheson, about a family living in 1970s suburban America who are faced with a terrible moral dilemma.
The repercussions of an apparently simple decision only become clear once the choice is made, by which time it is too late to backtrack on a life-altering proposition. Norma Lewis and her husband, Arthur, are given a wooden box housing a bright red button and a note bearing the instructions: “Mr Steward will call upon you at 5pm.”
At the agreed time, the horribly disfigured Arlington Steward makes his entrance and sets out a tantalising proposition.
If the Lewises push the red button in the next 24 hours, someone they don’t know will die and they will collect $1m.
If they don’t push the red button, the box will be taken away and they will get nothing.
The writer-director leaves some plot threads hanging and resolves others, asking us to swallow each outlandish twist and turn as Norma and Arthur try to wriggle off Steward’s hook.
Ultimately, the effort doesn’t reap rewards, but you can’t help but admire Kelly’s picture – even though you might ultimately feel somewhat cheated by it.
