The Box (2009)

The Lewises wake one morning to find a package on their doorstep.
Inside the package is a wooden box, with a red button on top of it, shielded by a locked glass dome.
Later, a Mr Steward comes to give them the key to the dome, and explain the box's purpose.
They are to keep the box for 24 hours, after which Mr Steward will call again to collect it.
If at any point during that 24 hours, the button is pushed, 2 things will happen; Mr Steward will give them $1 million when he collects the box, and someone they do not know will die...

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This movie is ostensibly based on the short story "Button Button" by  Richard Matheson. In fact, it is based on the The Twilight Zone (1980's revival) episode of the same name (also by Matheson under the pen name Logan Swanson, based on his own story); this sounds like a hell of a hair to split, but the truth is that Matheson hated the Twilight Zone version (hence the pen name) for it's revised ending, but it is that same revised ending that is used (and expanded on) here. For what it's worth, I prefer it to the original ending. 

When a short story (or short teleplay) is expanded to a feature length, there is always a danger that the plot will be stretched thin, and the movie will drag. Although he wasn't entirely successful, Screenwriter Richard Kelly (who also pulls Production and Directorial duty) attempted a very interesting way around that problem. 

Rather than stretch the 25 minute teleplay over 105 mins, he instead peppered it with a few extra details for use later (the Lewises now have a son, We learn more about their backgrounds, nosebleeds start to become a theme), beyond that, the original is barely stretched at all; 35 mins into the Box, the last line of "Button Button" is spoken, and Steward takes the box away. The final two acts are Kelly's take on 'what happens next'. 

It's an interesting way around the problem, and kudos for trying it, sadly, what happens next is a bit of a mess. 

People begin to act very oddly around the Lewises, and there seems to be somewhat of an all encompassing conspiracy going on, and by the time the credits roll the film has covered teleportation, mind control, NSA agents possessed by aliens and / or spiritual entities, the afterlife, tough choices and murder. Worse than that, you'll be left wondering 'what happens next?', something that neither the printed nor TV versions left you wondering (although Kelly, it seems, disagrees). 

The whole thing gets very wrapped up in its own new mythology, but without any real sense that it's mythology is understood... Frankly, if the whole thing wasn't made-up as it was written (with no planning or direction in mind) I'd be very surprised. 

While the first 35 minutes of this movie are the best version of "Button Button", I strongly suggest you press 'stop' on your DVD player once Steward drives off with the box at around the 35 minute mark; to watch any further is to detract from a perfectly fine, complete, short film.