Richard Kelly, director of "Donnie Darko" has again created a movie that is deceptive with it's simplicity and astounding with it's depth. I saw The Box tonight and loved it. These thoughts are my own personal interpretations, but feel free to share you own. (Assuming you have seen the movie, if not, spoilers ahead.)

The movie's selling point is based on the moral question: Would you press a button and kill a random stranger for a million dollars? Most of the movie, though, deals with the consequences of pressing said button.

I feel that the movie is a biblical allegory. Sin, Judgment, and Salvation through self sacrifice are all ideas that are explored.

First, there is allusion to the original sin being committed by women. 3 times a woman pushes the button. It is also mentioned that the "employers" will expedite mankind's extinction if enough people don't press the button. (Judgment of mankind/Armageddon) These are obvious biblical references.

Perhaps couples are offered the choice because mankind's nature is predictable. Consider this his sin. Someone will almost always push the button, and they will always choose to save the child's senses over the spouse. Therefore, someone will always die. The child can be saved at the cost of another life. (Salvation through sacrifice) Good old wrath of God, but in a less obvious package, in this case, a box.

However, it also presents the idea that God (Omnipresence, power to do impossible things) is merely technology so advanced it is "indistinguishable from magic". This would mean that another, more advanced civilization is pulling the strings in our world, rather than an all powerful being.

The problem with this is that faith and science don't mix, or at least haven't in the past. People often claim that they either believe in a greater being because of absolute faith, or they do not because there is no scientific evidence that God does in fact exist. For those people there is no middle ground.

I think this movie is trying to say that things do not always work in absolutes in terms of whether you believe in God or not. Faith and belief in a higher power may have originated from science and technology.

Your thoughts?

well the box is based off of Button Button by Richard Matheson. Matheson was the writer for several Twilight Zone episodes (many of the most iconic ones like the gremlin on the airplane)

i havent seen the movie, but ive read the story. it was excellent. i didnt notice any overt religious message, but its not unbelievable that its in the movie. the story is dark and makes a point that kind of touches home.

i hope to see the movie soon.
i'll have to look out for the ideas youve proposed.

...

...

edited out

[edit on 12-11-2009 by Seiko]