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20 out of 25 people found the following review useful: A good movie, 4 August 2007 Author: finitodistampare from Spain
I don't agree with some reviews here . Really this is a movie with an original screenplay that keep suspense throughout all the movie , something that so many Hollywood movies don't achieve even if they try . The music soundtrack is excellent, by Spanish composer Roque Baños, and Timothy Hutton does a fantastic job in this film. This is a good genre film and as that it fully achieves its goals. David Kelly does a fantastic job too in his role . The director is Daniel Monzón , previously a movie critic for Fotogramas magazine and this is his 3rd movie as a director . In resume , this movie don't pretend to be nothing but a genre movie. And as that it succeeds.
14 out of 15 people found the following review useful: A big could-have-been, 29 September 2007 Author: Agnelin
"La caja Kovak" follows American science-fiction best-selling author David Norton (Timothy Hutton), who goes on a part business, part pleasure trip to the Spanish island of Mallorca with his girlfriend. He proposes to her and she accepts. On that very night, she jumps off their hotel balcony and kills herself after a short stay at the local hospital. In the bed next to her is Sylvia (Lucía Jiménez), a young woman who found herself jumping off the balcony without having any recollection of how and why she did it. Both women did it right after their phone rang and the song "Gloomy Sunday" began to play on the other end of the line. Together, David and Sylvia decide to try and solve the mystery.The introduction is well done and it lures you into watching more, wanting to know how a song can make apparently normal people want to kill themselves. However, it evolves into a bizarre and not always efficient mix of thriller and science-fiction that completely fails to keep up the suspenseful and supernatural tone of the start, and is in fact rather dull and inconclusive at times. The characters are also quite poorly written -except for David Kelly's character maybe, the most interesting of the whole bunch- and they become quite predictable, as is the ending. Also, many clues thrown in along the way are never properly answered to.All in all, it's an okay movie, one to watch and easily forget.
18 out of 23 people found the following review useful: A zippy paranoid thriller concerned mind control, 27 May 2007 Author: ellswort8 from United States
A Hitchcokian retreaded plot line is welded to A-movie production values to great effect in thriller "The Kovak Box." A crazed scientist plays God on a gorgeous Mediterranean island, causing sexy Spanish sirens to jump off roofs )often naked!) in Manchurian-like premise. Although lacking in originality, this slickly made thriller still manages some sense of freshness largely thanks to a great cast, including a terrific performance by Irish vet David Kelly. great paranoid thriller less concerned with CGI explosions and improbable chase and more concerned with ideas like the power fo suggestion. Still, the film does contain enough shock, action and beautiful locations (not to mention sultry Spanish chicks) to hold most Americans attention!
17 out of 22 people found the following review useful: A Taut Thriller That Keeps Circling the Viewer's Mind Through a Maze, 10 June 2007 Author: gradyharp from United States
THE KOVAK BOX is a successful little suspense/psychological thriller from the Spanish writers Daniel Monzón (who also directs) and Jorge Guerricaechevarría. The story may be a bit far fetched, but then what horror story isn't? The premise for the tale holds up well and is aided by some very fine performances by a mixture of Spanish, English, and American actors. The mood of the film is beautifully set during opening credits by a complex maze in which a white rat sniffs and ambulates from confusing corner to confusing wall - just the manner in which director Monzón plans to tell his story.David Norton (Timothy Hutton) is a celebrated science fiction novelist visiting Majorca for a special conference accompanied by his soon to be fiancée Jane (Georgia Mackenzie). David has been having premonitions on his flight to the conference and those brooding thoughts continue as he registers for the conference and finds little disturbing clues that culminate in Jane's suicide leap from their hotel balcony. Almost simultaneously an attractive Spanish girl Silvia (Lucía Jiménez) in the same hotel 'jumps' from her balcony but is saved from death by falling onto an awning. Jane dies in the hospital: Silvia is in the bed next to Jane, witnesses David's grief, and the beginning of a bond is created.David meets a strange old man Frank Kovak (David Kelly) who seeks an autograph of David's first novel 'Gloomy Sunday' and from there the mystery begins. David becomes the unknowing main character in a sci-fi story that mimics ideas from his own first book, a story about the implantation of devices in humans that would enable a central force to assist the victims in their own destructive ends. The plot is tightly woven from this point on and to reveal any portion of it would diminish the chair-gripping finale.Timothy Hutton seems an odd choice for the main character of the film until his combination of cool intellect and understated passion clicks in. The film is graced by the presence of the talented Lucía Jiménez who seems to have the potential of becoming another Penelope Cruz! The cinematography by Carles Gusi and musical score by Roque Baños make the setting visually and aurally spectacular. For those who enjoy mind bender thrillers, THE KOVAK BOX will certainly please. Grady Harp
40 out of 70 people found the following review useful: Science and Fiction, 29 September 2006 Author: daniel-169 from Sweden
Usually, people write summaries of the story, but I won't. The plot summary on the movie page is good enough. :) It's important not to give away the story to get the most out of this film.I really liked the movie. It was extremely well put together with a tight script. It had nice photography and a great score. The story is engrossing and you connect with the characters and I found myself unable to second guess them very much (something that is a constant problem in present day Hollywood productions, it is far to easy to think up easy solutions to their predicaments that they so conveniently miss just so that the story can continue).I saw the movie at the Fantastisk Filmfestival (FFF) here i Lund, Sweden, today (a few hours ago). The director was present at the screening (apparently the third screening worldwide and the movie will have a wider release early next year) and I had a chance to talk to him. We talked about his inspirations for the movie (9/11 among other things, but not in any way that you really can understand from seeing the film), the progress of science into fiction and vice versa and the fact that he had set out to make a "Hitchcockean" movie (something I think he managed, albeit I must admit that I'm embarrassingly lacking in knowledge of Hitchkock's works, I found "The Birds" quite unwatchable for example).Either way, I highly recommend this movie to anyone who likes mysteries and a good thriller.
12 out of 17 people found the following review useful: Great combination thriller / sci-fi., 29 August 2007 Author: gsh999 from Subcrust Base 955 - Venus
Just watched this movie and it really held my attention. I am easily bored but this movie kept me interested all the way through. You have to pay attention because the story is very unusual, which makes it all the more interesting. This is the story of a mad scientist who wants to create a legacy and does so in a very unusual manner. The story begins with a number of people committing or attempting to commit suicide. The reason for this suicide outbreak is the plot of the movie. The acting was very good by both Timothy Hutton and the beautiful Spanish actress Lucia Jimenez. I enjoyed the suspense of the movie and towards the end there is a lot of action which reminded me of a James Bond movie. The twisted madman and the crazy scheme was also reminiscent of a Bond movie. I recommend this movie highly but pay attention so you know what is going on. 8/10
9 out of 13 people found the following review useful: Disappointing, 17 April 2007 Author: topflyer38 from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
At the end of the movie, I was paralyzed, caught with mixed feelings about the blatantly simple conclusion to a rather fantastic idea. The introduction sucked me in, and the subtle attempt of a story within a story had me thinking this was something special. Kelly's character sets up a plan to leave his mark on the world, similar to Tobin Bell's character Jigsaw in the Saw movies, but unlike Jigsaw, gives all the puzzle pieces to the protagonist, played by Hutton. This left me to think, what more is there to this story? After seeing Kelly's character explains all his motives, I spent the rest of the movie thinking there must be some twisted ulterior plot. Before I knew it, the movie was over and I felt cheated out of my anticipation.The shallow character development certainly didn't give the movie any hope either. Kelly and Hutton play a typical deranged villain and remorseful hero, and the viewer doesn't see much emotional or psychological character play in either one. There was however some redemption in Lucía Jiménez's dramatic portrayal of a desperate victim and in the great scenery and cinematography. While many people today despise some of the generic Hollywood slashers, this movie does not offer much better. If you are interested in some nice shots of the Balearic Islands, check out the movie, but if you're looking for a good mystery/thriller, don't bother leaving your couch.
12 out of 20 people found the following review useful: The Writer's Nightmare, 5 July 2007 Author: woodhead-1 from Canada
As a writer myself, I found this to be an excellent movie--and one reason why I would call it "The Writer's Nightmare". Many of the thoughts expressed in the movie will resonate with most writers, and certainly also give them food for thought. It touches on why writers write--for commercial reasons, to please the masses; or for personal reasons; or for other, more darker reasons.Every writer hopes to one day write "the masterpiece", the "Great American Novel" or "Great Canadian Novel" (in my case), and that's what much of this movie hinges on.I will say that although I think Timothy Hutton is a great choice for the lead character, he certainly doesn't portray a lot of emotion on the surface.
5 out of 8 people found the following review useful: Tense, mysterious and suspenseful Spaniard thriller in wonderful locations, 30 July 2008 Author: ma-cortes from Santander Spain
The story concerns about David(Timothy Hutton), a sci-fi bestsellers author. He arrives in Majorca along with his fiancée. But after a phone call, she spontaneously jumps from hotel balcony, committing herself suicide. The writer investigates the deeds but lots of people committing suicide all around him. He knows Silvia(Lucia Jimenez) who has survived her own and inexplicable suicide trying, jumping from a room. They pursue a suspect doctor (Gary Piquer)with dark intentions. Meanwhile, David is appointed a strange character named Kovak(David Kelly) who hands him over a rare box. The plot stretches plausibility to the final breakpoint, proceeded in caves of the Hell.This exciting picture packs suspense, noisy action, twits plots, tension and marvellous landscapes from island of Majorca. The film contains thrills and chills and is quite entertaining because is a laborious and intriguing suspense tale. Interesting and thrilling screenplay by Jorge Guerricaechevarria(Eloy De Iglesia's usual screenwriter) .Colorful cinematography by Carlos Gusi(Torrente, Box 507) who photographs splendidly Majorca outdoors and luxurious interiors. Spectacular and atmospheric musical score by Roque Baños(Fragiles, Machinist,Sexy beast,800 bullets). The motion picture is well directed by Daniel Monzon, a former cinema critic. Previously he directed fantasy(Heart of warrior) and comedy(Biggest robbery never told). Rating : Good, better than average. The film will like to twisted stories buffs and Timothy Hutton fans.
6 out of 10 people found the following review useful: OK movie which should have been better, 23 December 2007 Author: dean2900 from United States
I love the basic premise of this movie and it sounded like it could be good based on the plot, filming locations, and some decent actors.Unfortunately the movie fails at being creepy, scary, or even creating any form of tension. I get the feeling that the actors were just going through the motion.There is no chemistry between the two main characters, the Villain seems very weak, and there are no real surprised or twists.This movie seems like a toned down "In the Mouth of Madness" filmed in the Mediterranean.My best advice is to rent In The Mouth of Madness instead.Dean
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