In BLACK BOX (2020, streaming on Amazon Prime), a man who loses his wife and almost dies in a car crash deals with mounting bills, trying to raise his young daughter, and brain damage that has seriously eroded his ability to remember things. When he undergoes an experimental treatment, which forces him to plumb memories deep in his subconscious, he begins to question who he really is. With lackluster direction, this sci-fi horror flick was largely unremarkable for me, but it’s a solid watch. Not a B movie but a B+.
The film has some good acting, notably Phylicia Rashad (of THE COSBY SHOW and other fame) in the role of the scientist and Mamoudou Athie, who looks like the nicest guy in the world and instantly brings sorrow to his struggling character and makes you want to root for him. The mystery is guessable but not obvious, with just the right amount of tension building to the reveal and climax.
Probably my only significant qualm was the inconsistency of Nolan’s condition. He can’t remember where the plates go in the kitchen but remembers how to drive and use a cell phone. He needs Post-Its to remind him of things but can’t use his cell phone alarm to remind him to pick up his daughter, etc. No biggie, but it was irksome.
Overall, I didn’t love the movie but I liked it and consider it a solid watch.
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