Black Box

This is the kind of film that would be great on stage or as the setup for a computer game.

For such a minimalist film- crowdfunded, one actor in one set for the majority- I found it quite effective and engaging, with enough of a slow burn to keep me invested.

Interesting story kept me watching. The set and special effects made good use of the limited budget available.

That's what it seemed like for much of this ultra low budget movie.

The Manchester accents grated and at times made it sound like a UK TV soap.

The little bit of action was totally unnecessary and unbelievable when they could just have had the pods dock together normally and have the other guy already unconscious to achieve the same result.

However the plot was interesting enough to keep me guessing so that's why it gets 4 stars.

With a better budget, screenplay and appropriate actors this could be so much better.

What was your budget.....$100 "This is such a beautiful experience that you don't want to miss, believe me. You'll thank me later." I kept waiting for something to happen, but it never did. I won't be thanking you now and I will not be thanking you later...and there will not be a Black Box 2 in my future.

The blurb on the front declares, "nothing short of remarkable" (Movies In Focus) and "brilliant special effects" (Blazing Minds). Well, 'remarkable' is true, i suppose: it's worth remarking that this no-budget effort got made in the first place. Everything about it screams, 'made by students on work experience', from the production design to the script to the acting. The off-screen actors talk like newbies at a call centre and the lead emotes like an electrician's apprentice. The set's cobbled together from old office equipment and sticky-backed plastic, as though they got the Blue Peter team to rustle something up while the VT was rolling. If you like Hollyoaks, you'll love this. Otherwise, send it back to the charity shop you found it in. That's what i'll be doing with it. 50p wasted.