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ThrillerScience Fiction

The Box

- All you have to do is push the button.

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.

Release Date : 2009-10-29

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : MRCRadar PicturesDarko EntertainmentLin Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Cameron Diaz

Character Name : Norma Lewis

Original Name : Cameron Diaz

Gender : Female

James Marsden

Character Name : Arthur Lewis

Original Name : James Marsden

Gender : Male

Frank Langella

Character Name : Arlington Steward

Original Name : Frank Langella

Gender : Male

James Rebhorn

Character Name : Norm Cahill

Original Name : James Rebhorn

Gender : Male

Holmes Osborne

Character Name : Dick Burns

Original Name : Holmes Osborne

Gender : Male

Sam Oz Stone

Character Name : Walter Lewis

Original Name : Sam Oz Stone

Gender : Male

Gillian Jacobs

Character Name : Dana

Original Name : Gillian Jacobs

Gender : Female

Celia Weston

Character Name : Lana Burns

Original Name : Celia Weston

Gender : Female

Lisa K. Wyatt

Character Name : Rhonda Martin

Original Name : Lisa K. Wyatt

Gender : Female

Mark S. Cartier

Character Name : Martin Teague

Original Name : Mark S. Cartier

Gender : Male

Kevin Robertson

Character Name : Wendell Matheson

Original Name : Kevin Robertson

Gender : Male

Michele Durrett

Character Name : Rebecca Matheson

Original Name : Michele Durrett

Gender : Female

Ian Kahn

Character Name : Vick Brenner

Original Name : Ian Kahn

Gender : Male

John Magaro

Character Name : Charles

Original Name : John Magaro

Gender : Male

Ryan Woodle

Character Name : Jeffrey Carnes

Original Name : Ryan Woodle

Gender : Male

Basil Hoffman

Character Name : Don Poates

Original Name : Basil Hoffman

Gender : Male

Robert Harvey

Character Name : NASA Executive

Original Name : Robert Harvey

Gender : Male

Gentry Lee

Character Name : Chief Engineer

Original Name : Gentry Lee

Gender : Male

Andrew Levitas

Character Name : Black Op

Original Name : Andrew Levitas

Gender : Male

Gabriel Field

Character Name : Waiter

Original Name : Gabriel Field

Gender : Male

Frank Ridley

Character Name : Detective Starrs

Original Name : Frank Ridley

Gender : Male

Daniel Stewart Sherman

Character Name : Police Officer #1

Original Name : Daniel Stewart Sherman

Gender : Male

Matthew C. Flynn

Character Name : Police Officer #2

Original Name : Matthew C. Flynn

Gender : Male

Patrick Canty

Character Name : Police Officer #3

Original Name : Patrick Canty

Gender : Male

Sam Blumenfeld

Character Name : Timothy

Original Name : Sam Blumenfeld

Gender : Male

Kevin DeCoste

Character Name : Malcolm

Original Name : Kevin DeCoste

Gender : Male

Mary Klug

Character Name : Female Neighbor

Original Name : Mary Klug

Gender : Male

Allyssa Brooke

Character Name : Suzanne Weller

Original Name : Allyssa Brooke

Gender : Female

Danielle Heaton

Character Name : Estelle

Original Name : Danielle Heaton

Gender : Male

Michael Zegen

Character Name : Garcin

Original Name : Michael Zegen

Gender : Male

Rachael Hunt

Character Name : Inez

Original Name : Rachael Hunt

Gender : Male

Cheryl McMahon

Character Name : Female 911 Operator

Original Name : Cheryl McMahon

Gender : Female

Evelina Turen

Character Name : Deborah Burns

Original Name : Evelina Turen

Gender : Female

Bill Buell

Character Name : Dr. Earl Stupe

Original Name : Bill Buell

Gender : Male

Paul Marini

Character Name : Santa Claus

Original Name : Paul Marini

Gender : Male

Donald Warnock

Character Name : Doctor Y

Original Name : Donald Warnock

Gender : Male

W. Kirk Avery

Character Name : Doctor Z

Original Name : W. Kirk Avery

Gender : Male

Donald J. Hewitt Jr.

Character Name : Employee

Original Name : Donald J. Hewitt Jr.

Gender : Male

Floyd Richardson

Character Name : Employee

Original Name : Floyd Richardson

Gender : Male

David R. McDonough

Character Name : Employee

Original Name : David R. McDonough

Gender : Male

Rick L'Heureux

Character Name : Chase Employee

Original Name : Rick L'Heureux

Gender : Male

Nick Cairis

Character Name : Chase Employee

Original Name : Nick Cairis

Gender : Male

Robert Denton

Character Name : Chase Employee

Original Name : Robert Denton

Gender : Male

Paul Locke

Character Name : Chase Employee

Original Name : Paul Locke

Gender : Male

Danny DeMiller

Character Name : Chase Employee

Original Name : Danny DeMiller

Gender : Male

Jenna Lamia

Character Name : Diane Carnes (voice)

Original Name : Jenna Lamia

Gender : Female

Winstead Barnes

Character Name : NASA Executive (uncredited)

Original Name : Winstead Barnes

Gender : Male

Greg Berney

Character Name : Drama Class Kid (uncredited)

Original Name : Greg Berney

Gender : Male

Jodie Brunelle

Character Name : 911 Operator (uncredited)

Original Name : Jodie Brunelle

Gender : Female

Danny Carney

Character Name : Soldier (uncredited)

Original Name : Danny Carney

Gender : Male

Danny Connelly

Character Name : Library Employee (uncredited)

Original Name : Danny Connelly

Gender : Male

William Conrad

Character Name : Self (voice) (uncredited)

Original Name : William Conrad

Gender : Male

John Curie

Character Name : Nosey Neighbor's Grandson (uncredited)

Original Name : John Curie

Gender : Male

John E. Daniel

Character Name : Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : John E. Daniel

Gender : Male

Paige Flannery

Character Name : Student (uncredited)

Original Name : Paige Flannery

Gender : Male

Keith Fluker

Character Name : Military Officer (uncredited)

Original Name : Keith Fluker

Gender : Male

Steve Flynn

Character Name : Guest at Wedding Reception (uncredited)

Original Name : Steve Flynn

Gender : Male

John Franchi

Character Name : Lurker (uncredited)

Original Name : John Franchi

Gender : Male

Jay Gates

Character Name : Reporter (uncredited)

Original Name : Jay Gates

Gender : Male

Patrick Mel Hayes

Character Name : Wedding Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Patrick Mel Hayes

Gender : Male

Benjamin Healy

Character Name : Bartender (uncredited)

Original Name : Benjamin Healy

Gender : Male

Mark Hetherington

Character Name : Homeless Library Patron (uncredited)

Original Name : Mark Hetherington

Gender : Male

Steven Howitt

Character Name : NASA Scientist (uncredited)

Original Name : Steven Howitt

Gender : Male

Jessica Knight

Character Name : NASA Employee (uncredited)

Original Name : Jessica Knight

Gender : Female

Jon  Korzeniowski

Character Name : State Trooper (uncredited)

Original Name : Jon Korzeniowski

Gender : Male

Sal Lizard

Character Name : Santa Claus (uncredited)

Original Name : Sal Lizard

Gender : Male

Tina Mann

Character Name : NASA Scientist (uncredited)

Original Name : Tina Mann

Gender : Male

CJ McBath

Character Name : Photographer (uncredited)

Original Name : CJ McBath

Gender : Male

Alex Milne

Character Name : Child at Bus Stop (uncredited)

Original Name : Alex Milne

Gender : Male

Jason Mulcahy

Character Name : Edgy & Hip Family Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Jason Mulcahy

Gender : Male

Roxanne Nichols

Character Name : Wedding Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Roxanne Nichols

Gender : Male

Ed O'Keefe

Character Name : Norma's Abductor (uncredited)

Original Name : Ed O'Keefe

Gender : Male

Richard Pacheco

Character Name : Joel Reidy (uncredited)

Original Name : Richard Pacheco

Gender : Male

Greg Paul

Character Name : NASA Engineer (uncredited)

Original Name : Greg Paul

Gender : Male

Dan Perrault

Character Name : The Valet (uncredited)

Original Name : Dan Perrault

Gender : Male

Drew Rose

Character Name : Groomsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Drew Rose

Gender : Male

Mustafa Speaks

Character Name : Employee (uncredited)

Original Name : Mustafa Speaks

Gender : Male

Vyvian B. Stevens

Character Name : Brainwashed Follower (uncredited)

Original Name : Vyvian B. Stevens

Gender : Male

Franz Strassmann

Character Name : Wedding Guest (uncredited)

Original Name : Franz Strassmann

Gender : Male

David Struffolino

Character Name : NASA Rocket Scientist (uncredited)

Original Name : David Struffolino

Gender : Male

Marc Vos

Character Name : Banquet Waiter (uncredited)

Original Name : Marc Vos

Gender : Male

Jamie Christopher White

Character Name : Hotel Follower (uncredited)

Original Name : Jamie Christopher White

Gender : Male

Deborah Rush

Character Name : Clymene Steward

Original Name : Deborah Rush

Gender : Female

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

If you push the button, two things will happen. The best quote I ever saw as regards Richard Kelly's The Box, was that it is a Marmite movie. Marmite is a food substance that people either love or hate, The Box is a Marmite movie. Cameron Diaz and James Marsden star as a couple who are visited by a mysterious stranger (Frank Langella) who has a bizarre offer. The Box now in the couple's possession has a button (Langella's mysterious Arlington Steward informs them it's called the Button Unit), they are told that if they push the button then a complete stranger will die, they will then receive a life changing amount of money. What to do?. Based on a Richard Matheson short story titled "Button, Button", The Box is an ethereal mind meld of a piece. Morals and ethics are married up to a whole bunch of twists and other worldly ideas, which goes some way to explaining that where once there was a more than adequate half hour "Twilight Zone" episode (Profile in Silver/Button, Button 1986), there is now a near two hour movie crammed to the brim. It's this that hurts an otherwise stylishly produced and potentially thoughtful picture. After the raves and craves for his "Donnie Darko (2001)", Richard Kelly appeared to believe the press praise, that here was a new surreal director on the block. Where "M. Night Shyamalan" had success with the twist gimmick and couldn't let it go until his career went in the swamp, so to Kelly who kept straining to make movies that were needlessly over complex, trying to be smart when it isn't needed ("Southland Tales (2006)" is a car wreck of a movie). The Box does have intelligence and lots of good ideas, but a two hour film it does not make, with the attempts at weaving all the threads together proving to be too problematic come the finale. Incredulity a most appropriate word, plausibility is not. The Box, an intriguing - attractive - failure, but some do and will love it. If you haven't seen it then roll the dice and good luck. 6/10 Footnote: We have yet to actually get an adaptation to screen that contains Matheson's original literary ending!