This was actually my introduction to Kelly and my favourite movie when I was 9 when it had come out in 09 on my birthday funnily enough. I’m glad I can share my love for his filmography with passion cinema enthusiasts like yourself. Like most of his works I suspect your channel will develop a cult following so keep em coming and don’t give up!
The Box really is a Kelly-ized version of the short story Button Button by Richard Matheson and it captures the feeling of a nightmare perfectly. There is a lot to like about the film the acting, cinematography, score, sets, and it’s arguably Richard Kelly’s best directed film. I really enjoyed the film but I really wish it was better since Southland Tales, Donnie Darko, and his script to Domino are some of my all time favorites. This was Richard Kelly’s first big budget studio film and despite how weird the film gets it does feel held back in a lot of ways. I wish Richard Kelly would come back and more films since I really love all of his work.
I've always gotten that feeling with The Box, like someone was trying their damnedest to get this man to make a normal movie and he still couldn't do it. I mean this as a compliment.
I agree about it being like a nightmare. Something about the tone of the film really connected with me. Only thing I didn’t like was that the women were the ones pushing the button. Reminded me of eve taking the bite of the apple - and introducing evil / suffering into the world.
Yeah we need more creative works from Kelly to shake things up. Thank you so much for making this video. I Love This Movie, I’m inspired to rewatch now ✨💛✨
This film is maddening because you can see how good it could have been. The problem with auteurs is they still make rookie mistakes when not directing according to some inspired vision. When the story is based on some pure conceit, like the box, you can't let it meander into some other random set of conditions that make the original scenario feel irrelevant. The narrative would've worked better if it stayed purely with the family's POV throughout. And the character of Arlington would have stayed more mysterious and menacing. Also it only goes half way anywhere stylistically, a more visceral OTT approach probably would have worked better with the Sci Fi B movie concept. In terms of tone, cinematography, music etc.. Not sure the two leads were quite right for their parts, either. At least, I don't think they were able to bring more to the experience than the script allowed. Which might have made a big difference.
I do like this film, quite a lot. It almost feels like an extension of the Donnie Darko "universe". The alien technology has affinities to the future people who constructed the "ensurance trap" for Donnie. Arlington and his employees behave a bit like "the manipulated living" and "the manipulated dead" from DD. Kelly is very good at capturing the whole GenX thing. It's a vibe. The philosophical content is a bit sophomoric & under-developed.
I think that Arthur could have chosen which ever portal and the end result would be the same. This is because the manual states that every portal functions the same. So if he had questionable character, Arthur would have drowned from whichever portal he choose.
I think this movie is underrated. I like a good mystery and this delivers. The only thing that bothers me is the wife always pushing the button. That's just religious bs. Thanks for taking on an interesting movie.
I disliked this movie when i saw it the first time. After watching this analysis i have a completely new outlook on this film and have become a fan of the director. You got a sub from me, excellent video.
I love your analyses of Kelly's work and would be very interested to hear your thoughts on the director's cut of this film. This film, unlike his others, seems to have been under studio scrutiny (unsurprising given Southland Tales).
I never thought of aliens in this film. Yeah! That makes sense. But I for one thought throughout the entire film that God was testing humanity in this film and like in the Old Testament where God was pretty cruel, now God is once again deciding whether humanity is even worth living or not God should wipe out everything. Lightning is a symbol of Zeus, meaning a god threw it. God also had the power to kill and resurrect the “antagonist” of this film. In the room with the three water pillars, many religious elements such as heaven or hell are often referenced. Well, aliens make sense, but I still can't decide which is more likely.
I too love this movie and I have since I saw it! I also love "Dark City", which has a small post-theatrical release following, and several other movies that many people don't like, on average. "The Number 23" is another one that I adore and not may people have heard of.
I THOUGHT IT WAS UPLIFTING ENDING...THAT THERE IS STILL HOPE IN HUMANITY...ANY PERSON THAT REALLY LOVES JESUS WOULD NEVER PUSH THIS BUTTON BUT I THINK HER DECIDING TO DIE FOR HER SONS SIGHT & HEARING AS LONG AS SHE IS SAVED BY CHRIST I THINK THAT WAS A SACRIFICE OF LOVE & SHE WOULD BE REWARDED TO HEAVEN IT SEEMSNTHE 1ST COUPLE DID THE SAME...IM NOT SURE IF THE WIFE CHOSE AS NORMA DID BECAUSE THE OTHER GIY SAID HE HAD TO CHOOSE.... BUT NEVER THE LESS TGIS WAS A GREAT MOVIE & VERY UNDERRATED
I really like your videos. One thing, I think the long intros, regardless if uncut interview introduction or a title screen might kill your avg. viewer retention and likeliness to be promoted on YTs recommended, which is a shame because you talk about some great stuff.
Appreciate the feedback. That’s something I definitely learned with my Southland Tales series. I’ve kept the intros shorter since then. But you’re definitely right.
I don't get why they didn't knock the door down and take his son the a doctor to see if they can cure him. This movie was very confusing and I wasn't a fan.
This was actually my introduction to Kelly and my favourite movie when I was 9 when it had come out in 09 on my birthday funnily enough. I’m glad I can share my love for his filmography with passion cinema enthusiasts like yourself. Like most of his works I suspect your channel will develop a cult following so keep em coming and don’t give up!
You should not post your personal info online. From this comment, I can work out your exact age.
The Box really is a Kelly-ized version of the short story Button Button by Richard Matheson and it captures the feeling of a nightmare perfectly. There is a lot to like about the film the acting, cinematography, score, sets, and it’s arguably Richard Kelly’s best directed film. I really enjoyed the film but I really wish it was better since Southland Tales, Donnie Darko, and his script to Domino are some of my all time favorites. This was Richard Kelly’s first big budget studio film and despite how weird the film gets it does feel held back in a lot of ways. I wish Richard Kelly would come back and more films since I really love all of his work.
I've always gotten that feeling with The Box, like someone was trying their damnedest to get this man to make a normal movie and he still couldn't do it. I mean this as a compliment.
@@AwwGeeZ1983Forsure. He had a story that was already adapted before but he had to make it even weirder than it already was.
I agree about it being like a nightmare. Something about the tone of the film really connected with me. Only thing I didn’t like was that the women were the ones pushing the button. Reminded me of eve taking the bite of the apple - and introducing evil / suffering into the world.
THE WIFE ALWAYS PUSHING THE BUTTON WAS OBVIOUSLY REFERRING TO EVE & THE FORBIDDEN FRUIT
good check i didn't even think about that
I liked the box I didn't even know it was Richard Kelly.
"The box opens..." nice
Yeah we need more creative works from Kelly to shake things up. Thank you so much for making this video. I Love This Movie, I’m inspired to rewatch now ✨💛✨
True Lovecraftian horror. Underrated movie
This film is maddening because you can see how good it could have been.
The problem with auteurs is they still make rookie mistakes when not directing according to some inspired vision.
When the story is based on some pure conceit, like the box, you can't let it meander into some other random set of conditions that make the original scenario feel irrelevant.
The narrative would've worked better if it stayed purely with the family's POV throughout. And the character of Arlington would have stayed more mysterious and menacing.
Also it only goes half way anywhere stylistically, a more visceral OTT approach probably would have worked better with the Sci Fi B movie concept. In terms of tone, cinematography, music etc..
Not sure the two leads were quite right for their parts, either. At least, I don't think they were able to bring more to the experience than the script allowed. Which might have made a big difference.
I do like this film, quite a lot. It almost feels like an extension of the Donnie Darko "universe". The alien technology has affinities to the future people who constructed the "ensurance trap" for Donnie. Arlington and his employees behave a bit like "the manipulated living" and "the manipulated dead" from DD.
Kelly is very good at capturing the whole GenX thing. It's a vibe. The philosophical content is a bit sophomoric & under-developed.
“Take a shot every time box or button is mentioned”
42 later
(Halfway through)Take a shot every-time someone’s nose bleeds!
Trying to kill me here!!
I think that Arthur could have chosen which ever portal and the end result would be the same. This is because the manual states that every portal functions the same. So if he had questionable character, Arthur would have drowned from whichever portal he choose.
Good point. I think that's possible too but at the same time why did he keep getting hints at number 2 ( ^_^ )V
I think this movie is underrated. I like a good mystery and this delivers. The only thing that bothers me is the wife always pushing the button. That's just religious bs. Thanks for taking on an interesting movie.
thanks for trying to explain this movie.
"Take a drink every time I say 'the button' or 'box' in this video"
Challenge (probably regretfully) accepted.
Edit - I regret it
My intro to Arcade Fire
Women being the ones to push the button is an Eve and the Apple reference. Albeit a bad one.
I disliked this movie when i saw it the first time. After watching this analysis i have a completely new outlook on this film and have become a fan of the director. You got a sub from me, excellent video.
Please make the script vs movie video
I love your analyses of Kelly's work and would be very interested to hear your thoughts on the director's cut of this film. This film, unlike his others, seems to have been under studio scrutiny (unsurprising given Southland Tales).
Yeah, I heard he was more of a 'director for hire' on this one. Didn't realise it was his concept too
I never thought of aliens in this film. Yeah! That makes sense.
But I for one thought throughout the entire film that God was testing humanity in this film and like in the Old Testament where God was pretty cruel, now God is once again deciding whether humanity is even worth living or not God should wipe out everything.
Lightning is a symbol of Zeus, meaning a god threw it. God also had the power to kill and resurrect the “antagonist” of this film.
In the room with the three water pillars, many religious elements such as heaven or hell are often referenced.
Well, aliens make sense, but I still can't decide which is more likely.
I too love this movie and I have since I saw it! I also love "Dark City", which has a small post-theatrical release following, and several other movies that many people don't like, on average. "The Number 23" is another one that I adore and not may people have heard of.
I THOUGHT IT WAS UPLIFTING ENDING...THAT THERE IS STILL HOPE IN HUMANITY...ANY PERSON THAT REALLY LOVES JESUS WOULD NEVER PUSH THIS BUTTON
BUT I THINK HER DECIDING TO DIE FOR HER SONS SIGHT & HEARING AS LONG AS SHE IS SAVED BY CHRIST
I THINK THAT WAS A SACRIFICE OF LOVE & SHE WOULD BE REWARDED TO HEAVEN
IT SEEMSNTHE 1ST COUPLE DID THE SAME...IM NOT SURE IF THE WIFE CHOSE AS NORMA DID
BECAUSE THE OTHER GIY SAID HE HAD TO CHOOSE....
BUT NEVER THE LESS TGIS WAS A GREAT MOVIE & VERY UNDERRATED
I really like your videos. One thing, I think the long intros, regardless if uncut interview introduction or a title screen might kill your avg. viewer retention and likeliness to be promoted on YTs recommended, which is a shame because you talk about some great stuff.
Appreciate the feedback. That’s something I definitely learned with my Southland Tales series. I’ve kept the intros shorter since then. But you’re definitely right.
just my opinion but Darko isn't a fluke, it's just overrated.
Dick Burns is a very unfortunate name. 😂
I don't get why they didn't knock the door down and take his son the a doctor to see if they can cure him. This movie was very confusing and I wasn't a fan.
They altered the deal
Expected some explanations, got a recap. Meh.
I think the point of the script is to keep everyone wondering.
Good to know. Skip!
Garbage movie and bad Directing. To many questions left unanswered. I like a story to be told. Not interpreted.