Sofa Cinema

Gifts - NEW | Help | Sign in

Hotlists: Rent games; New releases; Coming soon; In cinemas now; Top rated; Most popular; All-time favourites; Divided opinions

Games: DS; GameCube; PS2; PS3; PSP; Wii; Xbox; Xbox 360

Collections: 100 Wild Westerns; 100 Most Wanted; 100 Hot Hits; 100 must-see movies; 100 Big Adventures; 100 Horror Films; 100 Cops & Robbers; 100 Rom-Coms; 100 Swords and Sandals Films

Hi-Def: Blu-ray; HD DVD

The Box (2009)

Average rating

(52%)

Starring:	Cameron Diaz \| James Marsden \| Frank Langella \| Basil Hoffman \| Gillian Jacobs \| James Rebhorn \| Michele Durrett \| Andria Blackman \| Lisa K. Wyatt \| Patrick Canty
Director:	Richard Kelly
Studio:	ICON HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time:	112 mins
Genres:	Horror \| Thriller
Languages:	English
Released:	April 19, 2010
Also available on:

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. But, 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.

Screenshots

Rating of 3 stars out of 5
Time Out

The latest film from Donnie Darko director Richard Kelly arrives on these shores bearing the clawmarks of...

Highest rated reviews

74 out of 75 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 3 stars
'SawRocks' review sucks.

KennyT from , 30th August, 2009

I've left my rating at an average 3 and will no doubt update if or when I see this movie. I have only seen one Saw movie but considering they all fit the same shape in general, from this trailer it looks nothing like the Saw movies. The story of this film is based on short story 'Button, Button' written by Richard Matheson and was shown on 'The Twilight Zone' all the way back in 1985 which I'm sure is long before the conception of the first Saw movie, which if i'm correct came out early 00s which means that even if it had been conceived as an early story it would not have influenced the original storyline of this film. That said, this film could be taking aspects from the hundreds of Saw movies made. However, how 'SawRocks' has judged his entire review on this one 3 minute trailer (Which quite frankly looks amazing) is beyond me. Also how 16 people found that review helpful, I don't know.

Read all highest rated reviews

18 out of 18 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 3 stars
Enjoyable

AlexPhillips from , 12th November, 2009

Right since other reviewers on here have not seen The Box my review may seem a little odd. First off this is nothing like Saw 1-6 (And at various points of boredom I have forced my way through them all). I notice that someone else on here has stated that this is based on a short story from the Twilight Zone; I assume this is correct as all the way through I could not help but think that that is exactly what it feels like (I did not know it was at the time). The story follows a couple who have been given a small black box by a sinister stranger. They are told that if the button on the box is pressed, they will receive $1 million; but someone, somewhere, who they do not know will die. They press the button and the story explores the consequences of that moral choice. The Box seems to be following on the vain of last summers Knowing (which I enjoyed), in the recent re-emergence of 1960-70s style 'science fiction light'. I don't want to give much away as like with Knowing its very easy to spoil it for future viewers. So with that in mind I'll simply say that its enjoyable trash with a heart. Sure its an over long, extended TV episode with delusions of grandeur; but it knows what its doing and I can think of far worse ways to spend 100 minutes (the Saw movies spring to mind). As a final note it's fair to say that this is no science fiction classic, like Blade Runner for example, and to be equally fair its not trying to be. But, if you enjoyed Knowing or films of that ilk I see no reason why you would not like this. P.S. If you like the idea of a box based film, I heavily recommend you search out Primer!!!

Read all highest rated reviews

Most recent reviews

1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 2 stars
Should be put back in the box!

Titch1977 from , 27th January, 2010

If someone offered you the chance to receive a million dollars just for pushing a button you would want to know what the catch was wouldn't you? Imagine you are told that when you press the button someone you didn't know would die. Thankfully as we all know, that isn't the only catch! Of course not, that would make the film boring and dull and all over in 5 minutes. Unfortunately the plot still makes the film boring and dull but over in a lot longer. Too long. In my opinion, this film is not a horror film, I wouldn't even describe it as a thriller. The use of the Saw theme tune is just misleading, although it works well in the trailer. This is a piece of science fiction, based on a short story. The problem with short stories is that they don't often work well into feature films. They have to put in too much paddding, which in this instance just creates confusion, gives it away too early and you see the ending coming a mile off. The acting in this film was not as good as it should have been. I found both James Marsters and Cameron Diaz wooden in their delivery and very unconvincing as man and wife. Perhaps this spoiled my enjoyment a little. But I was left unimpressed by this film.

Read all recent reviews