forget about donnie darko . i open with this because it seem that a good portion of the review i have read on the box amount to the simple but weak argument that it doesn not hold a candle to darko . it isn not that i disagree with that necessarily and i just feel that this movie be a different animal altogether and deserve it own analysis . there be point of comparison to be sure and but they be peripheral concern when you consider that the key to the heart of each movie be different . in darko and the drive force of the narrative be existential . in the box and the drive force of the narrative stem from a moral dilemma . believe me when i say that i understand the inclination to compare an innovative filmmaker amovies by look for trend and pattern and but for me it be more important to approach each new film a a self contain entity first and and then broaden my gaze afterwards . the box be one of those film you get mixed feeling about because it seem to be in some sort of identity crisis . it isn not always sure what it want to be . the twist be numerous and but easy to follow if not to predict . james marsden and cameron diaz play a relatively believable pair of newlywed who be in financial strait . a box contain a button unit arrive on their doorstep and they be inform by a horribly burn man that if push the button will cause the death of one person whom they do not know and and they will receive one million dollar . one of the thing the box achieve be to conjure up this invisible fear that somewhere out there our action have moral consequence . before the button be push it have an eerie and seductive quality and allure yet sinister . once it have be push and event be set in motion that make the two lead question their own morality and deeply regret their fateful decision . the notion that the box be an experiment be interesting because for me it provide the movie with a paradox . if there be external being develop an altruism coefficient base on data gather by couple push and not push the button and then a the conspiracy unravels and we notice that ultimately it be a forced altruism represent be selfless or the specie will be wipe out . i suppose the couple do not know the consequence of their action when they be face with make the decision and but they have no reason to suspect that the box can do anything and so why would they choose altruistically . be altruism devalue by the fact that we only care about it when present with a problem in our own life . the psychological hurdle in this movie be everywhere . push the button or do not and it likely someone be mess with you . take the money or do not and no one give anything away for free . search for the truth and the answer you find slowly reveal your demise . i propose that the box be an ironic work because it offer the false choice of free will while reveal that we be trap in many metaphorical box . you can only choose to be free at the expense of another life and be that freedom . no and it be only another box because then you become trap in the consequence of your own morality . there be no escape for u because we live on earth and that be another box . this be precisely why the external being in the film be ultimately antagonist . they demand we conform to moral standard which rob u of our freedom . we make it to mar and and we be burn for it and turn into slave in a sick game . the reference to jean paul sartre illustrate this point rather well . you can only enter the final chamber free and or not free . sure and but no matter the form in which we enter the chamber and it be a chamber nonetheless . trevor nemeth .