Box: Metaphor

In a dystopian future, crime has skyrocketed. Criminals are sentenced to die or imprisoned in a metal box. A woman has been sentenced to 7 years although she claims to be innocent. Each box is given supplies through the mercy of citizens although mostly, it shows the cruelty of humanity.

This is an Australian indie. Initially, it reminds me of Cube although we are not moving outside of this box. We're kind of stuck here. That's the main drawback. There are other movies like this. I don't mind an out-of-the-box concept, but they need to get out of this box. My suggestion is a flashback to show how she was convicted. This is an undercooked idea movie. It just needs more time in the oven.

In the future, crime is dealt with severely. And the person convicted has a choice. Immediate extermination or rehabilitation. And we follow Prisoner 37113, who feels she is innocent. She is sentenced to seven years and chose rehabilitation. It consists of being confined to a box, that does not seem big enough to stretch out in. Food may or may not be provided by local people, and it seems there are a lot of boxes around. There is a small hatch that opens periodically to be able to see out, and there is constant video monitoring, and infractions are dealt with severely. One minor infraction resulted in 7 days of noise so she could not sleep. A second infraction could result in bars coming down from the top crushing the person. It is very unpleasant, and the box leaks so rain will come drown upon the person. Apparently Prisoner 37113 is a political prisoner, as while she was in the box, an amnesty was declared, except for political prisoners. There is no back story, and a person in a box deprived of everything has certain needs that are never discussed as to how they are met, and even clothes would not last seven years under such conditions. And she is forbidden to have anything like reading material or anything to pass the long time. Just mindless confinement, which no person would be able to maintain sanity for even a fraction of the time she was sentenced to. A swing and a miss. Unlike the CUBE, where one could move between cubes, needing to avoid the traps, one is stuck in one cube, and there is no leaving.

A very dull film that thinks it has much more to say than it actually does.

You learn more from the plot synopsis on this site than you do from watching this film. It may have been a good idea in concept but this movie conveys nothing of note to the viewer.

Nothing is explained and there is no set up, pay off or character arc at all within the movie. The motives of any of the people in this film are not explained or developed.

If you want a scathing attack on modern society go watch The Platform or Infinity Pool instead.

The special effects are like something from a Neil Breen film and the poor lighting offers little to show any acting from the main character.

1 star.

I actually liked the concept that you will be a prisoner inside a box.. I was very excited to watch the film since the trailer si super good..

But the plot is a joke.. Imagine watching a protagonist to suffer the whole time of the movie.. Is this really a joke?. I was expecting for the protagonist to struggle and find her way out of the box.. But this is pure torture.. Who would want this kind of movie?. Maybe around1% of the planet's population who thinks weird just like you people did..

Stop making this kind of lame movie.. You will just waste, money and effort.. The acting is okay for me, but the plot was very boring.. Maybe you can re-do the movie into, making the protagonist struggle, think critically, and find her way out but put a lot of obstacles or hurdles that will make the viewers always on the edge's seat..

I always appreciate a filmmaker's effort to innovate, even if the concept isn't entirely new-as seen in CUBE and other movies where characters are confined in a space. The design and texture of the box in this film are interesting, although the flaws in the visual effects become apparent when viewed from a distance, especially the drones. The lead actress and one of the supporting actors delivered commendable performances. However, the film suffers from overly dark lighting, which detracts from the overall experience.

Although this might be a low or no-budget indie Australian film, budget constraints should not justify poor filmmaking. Unfortunately, the acting, with a few exceptions, was subpar, the story lacked engagement, and the dialogue was weak. The film felt aimless, lacking a clear narrative arc or purpose. I struggled to grasp what the film was trying to convey about a future dystopian society or the significance of the beach setting; a desert might have been more appropriate for the prisoners.

Overall, there isn't much that stands out positively in this film. The writer and director could benefit from studying storytelling techniques to develop a more compelling narrative and journey. I'm sorry to say that I did not enjoy this film especially when you have someone read the intro out loud - that was a cringeworthy moment and a strong indicator to the films impending doom.