Devon: “It will be okay.”
Caul: “The greatest lie ever told.”
An Indie sci-fi film on the precipice of where we might be heading, Creep Box, written and directed by Patrick Biesemans (and based upon his own short from 2022), ruminates on a hybrid artificial intelligence that is both intriguing and terrifying.
Following Caul (Geoffrey Cantor), a PHD in psychology and parapsychology at HDTH Corp, he is currently working on a sleek black tech box. . . a device that can be used to collect the memories of the dead, which are then fused with an A.I. that can utilize the past of the deceased to not only communicate with loved ones, but also gather information that could lead to solving crimes of those who have been murdered. You could draw some parallels to the ‘precogs’ in Minority Report (2002), but in this case working backwards from the murdered person’s memories to solve the crime instead of doing so before it happens.
Under the watchful eye of superior Devon (Sean Mahon) and to a lesser extent, CEO Ellis (Ian Lithgow – son of John), Caul is under a lot of stress – not only because it is looking like there is interest coming from the Department of Justice (meaning that they could fund the entire company and its technology for the coming years), but also because of his own past – which we only hear whispers of. His daughter calls often, but he never answers. His wife is gone, but we do not know the full back story. Each and every moment of his life is wrapped up in his stressful work. . . and continuing his research to further the technology (much to the chagrin of his superiors – who insist that he focus on the present work that will lock in the contract).
In many ways about memories, grief, and solace, Caul delves deeper into the mind, running his own test site out of his basement (unbeknownst to anyone). Smuggling memories from the company, he eventually is able obtain those of Adam (voiced by Adam David Thompson), someone who committed suicide. Rather intriguingly, unlike most memories that short circuit rather quickly, Adam’s do not. . . the second suicide patient to have this sort of staying power.
Delving deeper into this hybrid psyche, the lines blur as they have lengthy psychological conversations, Caul starting to question whether it is simply the A.I. doing a quality job of analyzing the material, or if there is something more than just the enhanced memories. Looking for more information, he reaches out to Adam’s widow, Sylvie (Katie Kuang) – in search of hopeful answers, he often frustratingly finds more questions in its stead.
Coming full circle in many ways, the quotation at the very beginning of this review, which revolves around the statement of ‘everything will be okay’ being a lie (which is uttered quite early on in the story), will make its way back into the narrative several times, leading to questions about human nature, the haunting power of words, whether we can do more for loved ones, and so much more.
Filmizon.com’s Nikolai Adams (right) with Noah Lang, one of the producers of Creep Box
As all of the best science fiction movies do, they not only have us contemplate science, technology, and where we are going in the future, but also have a story rooted in the human experience – that which is eternal. The pain, grief, and depression within these characters is palpable, and we can understand their desire for solace, forgiveness and closure (something that is not always easily attainable). Fusing the human experience with this perhaps not-too-far-in-the-distance technology allows Biesemans to creates quite the multi-layered tale, one that will likely leave people torn as to whether they’d want this sort of experience, or be absolutely terrified by it.
A thinking piece, Creep Box utilizes simple but effective visuals, an eerie score by Nick Bohun, and quality casting to enhance the story in every which way. By no means a movie you will forget, it will have you pondering on many a philosophical topic long after the credits have rolled. Instead of being loud and bombastic, it whispers at you, causing you to lean in to better listen, to expand your thought, and contemplate past, present and future – something more movies in the twenty-first century should have us do. So, listen closely to the creep box, it might just have something prescient to say.
As of right now, Creep Box is on the festival circuit and is targeted for a release in the Fall of 2024.