A mysterious stranger shows up on the doorstep of a desperate married couple’s (Cameron Diaz and James Marsden) home with a mysterious box. If they press the button inside the box, they’ll instantly get the money to save their ailing son, but in exchange, someone, somewhere in the world will die. But the temptation to save their dying son becomes too much, and Norma (Diaz) pushes the dreaded button and a gun shot goes off somewhere nearby. Consumed with guilt, Norma must do everything in her power to solve a murder she has knowingly caused. That is the plot synopsis for Richard Kelly’s new film The Box. Check out the first photo from the film above (please excuse the poor resolution, it’s the best we’ve got).
Kelly exploded onto the scene with the cult hit Donnie Darko, before releasing the highly criticized Southland Tales (which suffered a quick box office death. The Box is Kelly’s first attempt at a mainstream film. It’s an attempt at redemption. Kelly wrote the script based on a short story “Button Button” by Richard Matheson. The story also became the basis for a Twilight Zone episode in the Night Gallery years.
Discuss: Would you press the button to save your (theoretical) dying kid in exchange for the life of a stranger?
source: TwitchFilm
February 17th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
I would say yes but I guess when you think about it, how do you know the person to die won’t be you or your spouse.
February 17th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
in the story, the person who dies is the last person who pushed the button. so yeah…you dont really wanna push the button.
February 17th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Looks interesting, but has almost the exact same premise as a short film I saw at a film festival here in Melbourne in 2006 or early 2007 (I think it was)..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrKnhOJ-R80
check it out, really very simular
February 17th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
I saw this story on an episode of “The New Twilight Zone” a long time ago. It’s an interesting premise, but a whole movie?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Button,_Button_(The_Twilight_Zone)
February 17th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
SPOILERS!!!!!!!
Copied and pasted this from the IMDb forums. Apparently it is the short story that the movie is based on.
*BUTTON,BUTTON
The package was lying by the front door—a cube-shaped carton sealed with tape, their name and address printed by hand: “Mr. and Mrs. Lewis, 217 E. Thirty-seventh Street, New York 10016.â€
Norma picked it up, unlocked the door, and went into the apartment. It was just getting dark. After she put the lamb chops in the broiler, she sat down to open the package. Inside the carton was a push-button unit fastened to a small wooden box. A glass dome covered the button. Norma tried to lift it off, but it was locked in place. She turned the unit over and saw a folded piece of paper Scotch-taped to the bottom of the box. She pulled it off: “Mr. Steward will call on you at 8:00 p.m.†Norma put the button unit beside her on the couch. She reread the typed note, smiling. A few moments later, she went back into the kitchen to make the salad.
The doorbell rang at eight o’clock. “I’ll get it,†Norma called from the kitchen. Arthur was in the living room, reading. There was a small man in the hallway. He removed his hat as Norma opened the door.
“Mrs. Lewis?†he inquired politely.
“Yes?â€
“I’m Mr. Steward.â€
“Oh, yes.†Norma repressed a smile. She was sure now it was a sales pitch.
“May I come in?†asked Mr. Steward.
“I’m rather busy,†Norma said. “I’ll get you your watchamacallit, though.â€
She started to turn.
“Don’t you want to know what it is?†Norma turned back.
Mr. Steward’s tone had been offensive. “No, I don’t think so,†she replied.
“It could prove very valuable,†he told her.
“Monetarily?â€she challenged
Mr. Steward nodded. “Monetarily,†he said.
Norma frowned. She didn’t like his attitude.
“What are you trying to sell?†she asked.
“I’m not selling anything,†he answered.
Arthur came out of the living room.
“Something wrongâ€
Mr. Steward introduced himself.
“Oh, the –†Arthur pointed toward the living room and smiled. “What is that gadget anyway?â€
“It won’t take long to explain,†replied Mr. Steward. “May I come in?â€
“If you’re selling something—,†Arthur said.
He hesitated. “Well, why not?†he said.
They went into the living room and Mr. Steward sat in Norma’s chair. He reached into an inside coat pocket and withdrew a small sealed envelope.
“Inside here is a key to the bell- unit dome,†he said. He set the envelope on the chairside table. “The bell is connected to our office.â€
“What’s it for?†asked Arthur.
“If you push the button,†Mr. Steward told him, “somewhere in the world someone you don’t know will die. In return for which you will receive a payment of $50,000.â€
Norma stared at the small man. He was smiling.
“What are you talking about?” Arthur asked him.
Mr. Steward looked surprised. “But I’ve just explained,” he said.
“Is this a practical joke?” asked Arthur.
“Not at all. The offer is completely genuine.”
“You aren’t making sense,” Arthur said.
“You expect us to believe—”
“Who do you represent?” demanded Norma.
Mr. Steward looked embarrassed. “I’m afraid I’m not at liberty to tell you that,” he said. “However, I assure you the organization is of international scope.”
“I think you’d better leave,” Arthur said standing. “And take your button unit with you.”
Mr. Steward rose. “Of course, but are you sure you wouldn’t care to think about it for a day or so?”
Arthur picked up the button unit and the envelope and thrust them into Mr. Steward’s hands. He walked into the hall and pulled open the door.
“I’ll leave my card,” said Mr. Steward as he placed it on the table by the door. After he was gone, Arthur tore it in half and tossed the pieces onto the table.
Norma was still sitting on the sofa. “What do you think it was?” she asked.
“I don’t care to know,” he answered.
She tried to smile but couldn’t. “Aren’t you curious at all?”
“No.” He shook his head.
After Arthur returned to his book, Norma went back to the kitchen and finished washing the dishes.
“Why won’t you talk about it?” Norma asked.
Arthur’s eyes shifted as he brushed his teeth. He looked at her reflection in the bathroom mirror.
“Doesn’t it intrigue you?”
“It offends me,” Arthur said.
“I know, but” –Norma rolled another curler in her hair—”doesn’t it intrigue you, too?”
“You think it’s a practical joke? She asked as they went into the bedroom.
“If it is, it’s a sick one.”
Norma sat on her bed and took off her slippers. “Maybe it’s some kind of psychological research.”
Arthur shrugged. “Could be.”
“Maybe some eccentric millionaire is doing it.”
“Maybe.” said Arthur.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
Arthur shook his head, “No”.
“Why?”
“Because it’s immoral,” he told her.
Norma slid beneath the covers. “Well, I think it’s intriguing,” she said.
Arthur turned off the lamp and leaned over to kiss her. “Good night,” he said.
“Good night.” She patted his back.
Norma closed her eyes. Fifty thousand dollars, she thought.
In the morning, as she left the apartment, Norma saw the card halves on the table. Impulsively, she dropped them into her purse. She locked the front door and joined Arthur in the elevator.
While she was on her coffee break, she took the card halves from her purse and held the torn edges together. Only Mr. Steward’s name and telephone number were printed on the card.
After lunch, she took the card halves from her purse again and Scotch-taped the edges together. “Why am I doing this?” she thought.
Just before five, she dialed the number.
“Good afternoon,” said Mr. Steward’s voice.
Norma almost hung up but restrained herself. She cleared her throat. “This is Mrs.
Lewis,” she said.
“Yes, Mrs. Lewis,” Mr. Steward sounded pleased.
“I’m curious.”
“That’s natural,” Mr. Steward said.
“Not that I believe a word of what you told us.”
“Oh, it’s quite authentic,” Mr. Steward answered.
“Well, whatever—” Norma swallowed.
“When you said someone in the world will die, what did you mean?”
“Exactly that,” he answered. “It could be anyone. All we guarantee is that you don’t know them. And, of course, that you wouldn’t have to watch them die.”
“For $50,000,” Norma said.
“That is correct.”
She made a scoffing sound. “That’s crazy.”
“Nonetheless, that is the proposition,” Mr. Steward said. “Would you like me to return the button unit?”
Norma stiffened. “Certainly not.” She hung up angrily.
The package was lying by the front door;
Norma saw it as she left the elevator. Well, of all the nerve, she thought. She glared at the carton as she unlocked the door. I just won’t take it in, she thought. She went inside and started dinner.
Later, she went into the front hall. Opening the door, she picked up the package and carried it into the kitchen, leaving it on the table.
She sat in the living room, looking out the window. After a while, she went back into the kitchen to turn the cutlets in the broiler. She put the package in a bottom cabinet. She’d throw it out in the morning.
“Maybe some eccentric millionaire is playing games with people,” she said.
Arthur looked up from his dinner. “I don’t understand you.”
“What does that mean?”
“Let it go,” he told her.
Norma ate in silence. Suddenly, she put her fork down. “Suppose it’s a genuine offer?” she said.
Arthur stared at her.
“Suppose it’s a genuine offer?” Norma repeated.
“All right, suppose it is?” He looked incredulous. “What would you like to do? Get the button back and push it? Murder someone?”
Norma looked disgusted. “Murder.”
“How would you define it?”
“If you don’t even know the person?” Norma said.
Arthur looked astounded. “Are you saying what I think you are?”
“If it’s some old Chinese peasant ten thousand miles away? Some diseased native in the Congo?”
“How about some baby boy in Pennsylvania?” Arthur countered. “Some beautiful little girl on the next block?”
“Now you’re loading things.”
“The point is, Norma,” he continued, “what’s the difference who you kill? It’s still murder.”
“The point is,” Norma broke in, “if it’s someone you’ve never seen in your life and never will see, someone whose death you don’t even have to know about, you still wouldn’t push the button?”
Arthur stared at her, appalled. “You mean you would?”
“Fifty thousand dollars, Arthur.” Norma interrupted. “A chance to take that trip to Europe we’ve always talked about.”
“Norma, no.”
“A chance to buy that cottage on the Island.”
“Norma, no.” His face was white.
She shuddered. “All right, take it easy,” she said. “Why are you getting so upset? It’s only talk.”
After dinner, Arthur went into the living room. before he left the table, he said, “I’d rather not discuss it anymore, if you don’t mind.”
Norma shrugged. “Fine with me.”
She got up earlier than usual to make pancakes, eggs, and bacon for Arthur’s breakfast.
“What’s the occasion?” he asked with a smile.
“No occasion.” Norma looked offended. “I wanted to do it, that’s all.”
“Good,” he said. “I’m glad you did.”
She refilled his cup. “Wanted to show you I’m not—” She shrugged.
“Not what?”
“Selfish.”
“Did I say you were?”
“Well” –she gestured vaguely—”last night…”
Arthur didn’t speak.
“All that talk about the button,” Norma said.
“I think you—well, misunderstood me.”
“In what way?” His voice was guarded.
“I think you felt” –she gestured again—”that I was only thinking of myself.”
“Oh.”
“I wasn’t.”
“Norma—”
“Well, I wasn’t. When I talked about Europe, a cottage on the Island—”
“Norma, why are we getting so involved in this?”
“I’m not involved at all.” She drew in a shaking breath. “I’m simply trying to indicate that—”
“What?”
“That I’d like for us to go to Europe. Like for us to have a cottage on the Island. Like for us to have a nicer apartment, nicer furniture, nicer clothes, a car. Like for us to finally have a baby, for that matter.”
“Norma, we will,” he said.
“When?”
He stared at her in dismay. “Norma—”
“When?!”
“Are you” –he seemed to draw back slightly—”are you really saying—”
“I’m saying that they’re probably doing it for some research project!” she cut him off.
“That they want to know what average people would do under such a circumstance! That they’re just saying someone would die, in order to study reactions, see if there’d be guilt, anxiety, whatever! You don’t think they’d kill somebody, do you?!”
Arthur didn’t answer. She saw his hands trembling. After a while, he got up and left for work. Norma remained at the table, staring into her coffee. I’m going to be late, she thought. “What difference did it make? I should be at home anyway, not working at an office.”
While she was stacking dishes, she turned abruptly, dried her hands, and took the package from the bottom cabinet. Opening it, she set the button unit on the table. She stared at it for a long time before taking the key from the envelope and removing the glass dome. She stared at the button. How ridiculous, she thought. All this furor over a meaningless button.
Reaching out, she pressed it down. For us, she thought angrily.
She shuddered. Was it happening? A chill of horror swept across her.
In a moment, it had passed. She made a contemptuous noise. Ridiculous, she thought. To get so worked up over nothing.
She threw the button unit, dome, and key into the wastebasket and hurried to dress for work. She had just turned over the supper steaks when the telephone rang. She picked up the
receiver. “Hello?”
“Mrs. Lewis?”
“Yes?”
“This is the Lenox Hill Hospital.”
She felt unreal as the voice informed her of the subway accident—the shoving crowd, Arthur pushed from the platform in front of the train. She was conscious of shaking her head but couldn’t stop.
As she hung up, she remembered Arthur’s life-insurance policy for $25,000, with double indemnity for—
“No.” She couldn’t seem to breathe. She struggled to her feet and walked into the kitchen numbly. Something cold pressed at her skull as she removed the button unit from the wastebasket. There were no nails or screws visible. She couldn’t see how it was put together.
Abruptly, she began to smash it on the sink edge, pounding it harder and harder, until the wood split. She pulled the sides apart, cutting her fingers without noticing. There were no transistors in the box, no wires or tubes. The box was empty.
She whirled with a gasp as the telephone rang. Stumbling into the living room, she picked up the receiver.
“Mrs. Lewis?” Mr. Steward asked. It wasn’t her voice shrieking so; it couldn’t be. “You said I wouldn’t know the one that died!”
“My dear lady,” Mr. Steward said. “Do you really think you knew your husband?”
THE END
February 17th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
“Would you kill one of us for a million dollars?” Asked Dade.
“Yes! I can buy new friends! We’re going to Canada!”
-Escaping Reality
February 17th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
This is a hijacked story from the last Twilight Zone comeback series! I hope everyone gets their share of the money, me and the other guy included…
February 17th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Yes. Kevlar is a glorious invention
February 17th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Not to be a nerd, but Twilight Zone and Night Gallery were two different shows. Both were created by, and hosted by, Rod Serling, but Night Gallery was a totally separate show.
Now I’ll get down off my soapbox that I climbed onto for no really good reason….
February 17th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Yeah, I remember that one from 80’s TWilight Zone series. Mare Winningham played the wife. A great 30-minute ep., but a whole movie?
February 19th, 2008 at 2:15 am
Richard Matheson, that’s the same guy who wrote I Am Legend, right? Firgures… Anyway, this seems like it could potentially be great, despite the fact that everything with Cameron Diaz is a-ok with me.
February 19th, 2008 at 10:49 am
i would happily push the button to save my sons life.. it saves me the trouble of actually having to go out and kill someone to save his life. i think its a great deal