One fine December morning in 1976, a stranger deposits a package right on the doorstep of Arthur and Norma Lewis’ Virginia home. When the Lewis family--their young son Walter at their side--opens the package, they find a well-polished, wooden box with a red button on top. The button is protected by a glass dome, which can only be opened by a key that they do not possess. A note found with the package states that a Mr. Steward shall stop by later that day with regards to the strange box. When Mr. Steward arrives, Norma is the only one at home, and she’s immediately taken aback by the horrible scar that Steward has, which covers practically half his face.
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Yet Arlington Steward (played by Frank Langella with a cool, polite detachment) is no monster--a fact which he tells Norma outright. Convinced that he’s no threat, Norma bids him welcome to her home. Once inside, Steward lays out the situation with the box. If Arthur and Norma should press the red button, they will receive one million dollars cash, free and clear--however, once they press the button, someone in the world will die. By pressing the button, they will directly be responsible for a person’s death. Steward gives Norma the key to open the glass dome on the box, along with a one hundred dollar bill, and some warnings: do not call the police, or tell anyone else, and that they only have twenty four hours to make this decision either way.
Based on the short story "Button, Button" by legendary author Richard Matheson ("I Am Legend"), The Box was written and directed by Richard Kelly, who gave us the mind bending Donnie Darko. Kelly expands on the original Matheson story by filling in the blanks of who would arrange such a strange set up like this, and why. The answers that Kelly provides are there, within the narrative, ready and waiting to be picked up by an observant viewer. It’s no coincidence that Kelly made Arthur a rocket scientist who worked on the Viking Mars missions, nor are the subtle reminders of science fiction stories throughout the film, as well.
Cameron Diaz and James Marsden are very good as the young couple who find themselves in a tight situation that grows more and more bizarre with each passing day. And Kelly does a superb job at slowly building up the suspense, and the weirdness, right to the startling end. If your idea of great science fiction is strictly Star Trek or Star Wars (not that there’s anything wrong with that), then you might be disappointed by the subtle mind-blowing SF elements on hand, here. But those of you who are looking for a good, nerve-wracking science fiction story that challenges your perceptions, then you might want to give The Box a try. Highly recommended. --SF
