9 Movies That Weren't As Smart As They Pretended To Be
2. The Box Takes A B-Movie Idea And Says It Has Weight
Theres a real temptation to put Donnie Darko in place of this, but like many directors early on Richard Kelly was likely experimenting rather trying to create something that revelled in its smarts. The same cant be said in full confidence of the directors cut, but even then much of Darkos mysticism comes from fans thinking the film is smarter than it is, rather than the movie itself. That fan reaction to My First Indie Movie clearly had an effect on Kelly though, because his subsequent films are clearly bolstered by his growing pretentiousness. The Box is the pinnacle of this (although that could change with his latest, Amicus, arriving later this year), which is bizarre given the overall plot is deviously simple. Presenting a normal couple with a box that sports an enticing red button with the promise that if they press it theyll get a million dollars, but a random person they dont know will die. Naturally they push the button and the film eventually ends with a perpetuating loop; the wife is killed when another couple in the chain decide to push the button. Thats the concept of The Box (which really should be called The Button), not the plot, which is another issue. Dealing with NASA, extradimensional beings who can control lightning and the thin veil of an experiment its all too much and confusing for the sake of it.
