The Box (15)

BAD news for Donnie Darko director Richard Kelly. His new grade-A nut-twister of a film, The Box, is only the fourth movie in history to get an F from American test audiences.

Tough luck, Rich. Doesn't look like you've gone down too well with the "fat, unemployed morons who like filling in marketing surveys" demographic.

But it is nowhere near as bad as the hype suggests - although if you're in the mood for something straightforward, this is not for you. Based on an 80s episode of The Twilight Zone, it stars Cameron Diaz and James Marsden as a couple strapped for cash until a disfigured stranger (Frank Langella) turns up with a box. They keep it for 24 hours and if they press the button on top, they'll get $1m. But someone they don't know will die.

Cam presses it but one of James's co-workers randomly murders his wife . . . and the couple get embroiled in a bizarre conspiracy involving NASA.

The Box has two halves - one good, one pants. The good, first half has a fab 70s setting, hammy soundtrack and set-up.

But the second half blows it, and becomes less about a couple faced with horrible moral choice than a couple faced with a demented alien and his followers.

Are the good bits strong enough to win the bad bits a pass? I reckon so. But if you prefer to go along with the drongos who tick boxes for CinemaScore, check out Hannah Montana: The Movie or The Ugly Truth. They both scored As and are cr*p.

OUT FRIDAY

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