Movie spotlight
Boxes
Liam is nineteen, fresh out of high school, and enjoying a life of parties and pills. He lives with his grandmother. He keeps her at an arm’s length, and so, when she has a sudden stroke, he ignores her call, and doesn’t find out until he reads a text message sent from Wellington Hospital. He rushes to the hospital, in the middle of the night, drunk and hopped up on cheap stimulants. He is greeted by a closed door, and a nurse who tells him he has to wait to see his grandma. Thus, Liam spends a night and a morning in the hospital, contemplating his decisions, while befriending a young boy who is waiting for news of his mother. A social-realist drama, Boxes is a story about regret, relationships, and the widespread existence of small tragedies.
Insights
Plot Summary
A young woman inherits a secluded house from her estranged grandmother, only to discover a series of mysterious boxes hidden within. As she begins to open them, she unearths dark family secrets and a hidden past that challenges her perception of reality. The film unravels a psychological thriller where memory, identity, and the weight of unspoken truths collide.
Critical Reception
Boxes received a mixed to positive reception, with critics often praising its atmospheric tension and the lead performance, while some found the plot occasionally predictable. Audiences were generally drawn to its suspenseful nature and thought-provoking themes.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its eerie atmosphere and suspenseful build-up.
The lead performance is a standout, carrying the emotional weight of the mystery.
Some found the narrative twists to be somewhat telegraphed, impacting the overall surprise.
Google audience: Google users generally appreciated the film's suspense and intriguing premise, with many finding it a compelling watch for its genre. Some viewers noted that while the mystery was engaging, certain plot resolutions could have been stronger.
Awards & Accolades
Nominated for Best Thriller Feature at the 2017 Austin Film Festival.
Fun Fact
The secluded house used for filming was an actual abandoned property in rural Pennsylvania, which added to the film's authentic sense of isolation and decay.
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