Reviews

Let me first say, I watched the movie in two sittings, the first time I watched it till the moment of her change. I say this, because if the movie has a flaw, it's that it is too slow.

I found it, by searching for some weird twilight zone kind of movies, and if you manage to watch it all the way through, it does have some aspects of this, but it is mostly grounded in reality, which of course will turn off the more hardcore fiction fans.

The movie shows the bleak, depressing reality of the countries from the eastern block, in the most pessimistic manner possible. Because of this, I think the movie will be mostly appreciated by people from these countries, but if you're an international movie fan, that considers to be interested in the harsh reality of our cultures, please have a go at it.

The cinematography and score are really plain, it's made almost like a documentary, with extremely realistic acting and atmosphere. The movie shines at showing how a seemingly good life, judged by the societal expectations of the culture, can be a real hell for some people, and in the latter part it gets more philosophical, about what does it actually mean to hate someone, and what life offers to those who choose to not follow a behaviour considered normal by society.

I liked the movie as a whole, but I won't lie that it's perfect, the first 40 minutes especially are quite a drag, but after the setup is done and you get involved with the characters it becomes something else. I also like the ending, because it makes the whole thing quite a contemplative and romantic story.

It's a good movie, I'm glad I watched it, I won't forget it anytime soon, I will recommend it to people with more nuanced view on life, but for those who think movies are for entertainment firstly, I won't even mention it.

The movie is fine, but it's just that, which is a disappointment given the fact that so many amazing actors are in there.

I wondered for a while, about why it doesn't live up to it's potential, and I think it lacks direction. It's almost as if the actors were given the script on the spot, with no preparation, and they just read the lines to the camera. Absolutely no nuance to their expression. The movie tries to have this whimsical quirky quality, but it just comes out as if it's faking it, instead of the characters believing that's the world they're in, like high school acting or sth. And this is surely the directors fault, because I've absolutely seen each and every one of those actors do stellar performances.

If you're a sucker for a bit of fun escapism, this is the movie for you. It does think too highly of itself a few times, but you surely won't die of cringe from it, so it's a safe bet on a night that you want to waste a bit of time or to ease you into sleep.

I'm giving it a 7, because it's a bit of a guilty pleasure for me, but the film snobs would probably give it like 5 or 6, and they'll probably be right, so keep that in mind.

Right of the bat, if you're one of those infantile people that want everything spoon fed to them, you won't like it.

Without spoiling anything, the movie is a contemplative meditation on what would an unknown disaster might be like to a family on vacation.

Personally I liked it a lot.

The cinematography is really beautiful, with a lot of creative shots, enhancing the mystery vibe quite a lot.

The acting is top noch, and if I have to be honest, you won't see any groundbreaking performances here, but there's not a single scene where you'd think - hmm, this looks like an actor acting; the characters are embodied as authentically as possible.

The score is quite up my alley, meaning it's a storytelling device, not a mere background, and it's got classical influences, which makes the drama so much more engrossing.

The tone and dialogue is acutely contemporary(as of 2023), meaning a lot of pop references, jargon and topics from the past few years.

The direction is bold and informed on the issues it tries to discuss.

And the ending is surprising.

Some people say it's not enough, but I think the implications are this movie's strongest point, and it makes you think about your own positions during something similar, will you be prepared?

Overall a nice mistery, and nice escapism.

Not gonna lie, the first half of the movie is slow as hell, this will immediately alienate a lot of people not used to derive their pleasure from anything other than the plot and dialogue.

That said after having watched the whole thing, I think it's worth it.

The cinematography is just beautifully done, with the saturated color palette that few movies have. There is not a single shot that doesn't fully emerse you in the idyllic tropical setting of Florida, especially there is a scene where the kids are exploring an abandoned living complex, which is a feast for the eyes imo(watch it in 4k HDR please).

The topic of discussion is anger and entitlement.

As someone who cannot stand entitled people, the mother character did stir up a lot of hatred in me. People with such issues should be showed this film, in order to realize how insufferable they can be to the ones around them. That being said the movie exercises total restraint on making any moral judgements of the situations, it just shows the life those people have - this is a true slice of life movie.

The acting is superb all around. Towards the end I was amazed by the acting this little kid could show us, it's definitely one of the best child acting abilities ever.

Overall a bit too long, but then again if you're looking for some late night escapism or you're just a fan of well made movies, this is for you.

Ps: the ending scene is really interesting.

I knew that Vertigo is a tried and true classic, so I wanted to look at it like any other movie, instead of judging it mostly by it's reputation.

And I'm kind of disappointed, tho it's still a good movie, let me explain.

When I look at the rating and the reviews of people, a lot of them basically say it's the most perfect piece of cinema ever.

But if looked at without buying all the hype, I saw - a little bit of sketchy acting here and there, the music tho very nostalgic still not up to today's standards, the dialogue kind of cartoony, and the story kind until the final reveal a bit cliched. And I'm perfectly aware those gripes can all be attributed to the style and technologies at the time.

Now tho, I'm not saying the movie is bad, just that if you want to watch it expecting something really groundbreaking, you'll definitely be disappointed.

But if you just want a good piece of escapism, and you're ok with the pace being a bit drawn out, you'll be delighted to see some amazingly beautiful scenery around San Francisco in the late 50s, some really captivating mysterious moments, also the thinking, mannerisms and activities of the time, some interesting old school effects...

So it's a really good movie overall just imo not the masterpiece people are making it out to be.

I'm not gonna lie, I was expecting a little bit more because of the reviews I saw here, and even someone compared it to Good Time by the Safdie brothers, and it does have a similar quality, but it's not really as interesting as it.

Otherwise it's a well made movie, acted mostly good, the score is not something groundbreaking, but it's there, the cinematography is pretty nice. A gripe I have without spoiling anything, there is a moment in the begining which defines the character's path, and depending on your suspension of disbelief, it might brake the movie for you.

In the end I'm not disappointed I watched it, but if you want something amazing, better watch another movie. If you want a good hour and a half of escapism, go head it'll be enjoyable.

Don't listen to the reviews that say it back wack after the halfway point.

This is an insanely entertaining, really creepy and wacky mystery, which is acted to perfection, shot beautifully, the score transports you right into their world, and the dialogue is really witty and unexpected at every step.

I'm being brief here, because I don't want to spoil anything for you.

People talk about the plot holes, but the thing is, if you're in the situation this family was going through, you'd probably do just the same as in the show. The only kind of shady moment for me was, when they are considering all kinds of people as suspects, at about the middle of the series they get fed this clue, which is kind of weak to consider, but for a moment they run with it, but it's ok, because then the plot redeems itself by going another direction.

The show is absolutely gorgeous and worth it.

As a big fan of Yorgos I was really hyped for this one, and let me tell you, it's not for everyone.

The first two thirds of the movie are setup, and only the last one is the payoff, which is more in line with Yorgos' style.

If you're accustomed to artsy films, you're gonna like the whole style of the production design, but otherwise it might seem kind of weird - the wide angle lens, the overexaggerated landscapes, the old timey, quirky dialogue lines and mannerisms.

Also a good aspect is the fact that Emma Stone here, has maybe for the second time, left her own snarky personality aside, and completely immersed herself in the character - the director's job, well done.

Otherwise the film is a recreation of the stages of development of the emancipated woman's psyche, and it's quite interesting in that metaphorical realm.

The acting is good all the way, with highlights from Mark Ruffalo and the guy that plays the baddie, William Daffoe is amazing In everything he's in, but that's expected, and he's not the focus in this film either way.

If I have to state my subjective opinion - whether you're able to withhold the want for instant gratification is gonna play a major role for whether you're gonna like this film, if you can hold for at least half the movie, at least you're gonna get involved with the characters and it might keep your interest, but if you're one which stays committed to watch something till the end, you're definitely not gonna regret it.

If you're expecting something groundbreaking, like Yorgos' first three films, this is not the one.

If you plan on watching this stoned, go ahead, it'll be magnificent.

I gave it a score of 9, but if you're not inclined to give higher score to a film because of it's production value and technicality, you should take my score more like 7-8.

Not gonna lie, the rating is higher(should probably be 7) than what the movie deserves, but that's because I'm pleasantly surprised, by the fact that Bulgarian cinema is finally trying to make something, that's not cookie cutter bulls**t. Highlights are the beautiful cinematography, a few creative pieces of dialog, some nice use of classical music, and the fact that the performances from the actors were realistic, not the usual theater acting. Don't be expecting something amazing, but if you would like to watch something that'll make you feel nostalgic about your childhood, and unrealized love interests, then watch this.

Wow, I am just amazed by the score this movie has, lower than 6, really!?

The movie is amazing, I've read quite a few of the reviews, that say The Box is total trash, for no objective reason other than, the person writing the review either didn't get all the information not explicitly said, and only alluded to, or they just can't live with themselves not getting to see the bigger picture painted by these implications.

Forget about them, if you like good science fiction or a good thriller, or just a good mystery, this movie excellent.

The acting is really good, the score is amazing, the story is pretty wild , and the cinematography is up there with the rest.

I won't say much about the story because this movie, in my opinion is best experienced without any prior knowledge at all, I would recommend even not to watch the trailer.

If you're wondering whether it's worth watching because of the low rating, watch it! It'll be the best and most weird experience, probably ever for you, and at the end you'll be wondering why it has such a low score.