A Dive into “The Box Collector”: Am I Boxed In or Free?

So, I watched “The Box Collector,” and, eh, what a ride. Directed by the mysterious Jeffrey A. Fisher, it’s also known as “Love at First Kill.” I mean, with a title like that, it’s already firing up my imagination, like when you wonder if you should indulge in the Friday “fika” pastry at work. You shouldn’t, but you totally will.

The movie stars Nora Zehetner – you remember her from “Brick,” right? She was brilliant there, and she doesn’t disappoint here either, bringing an uneasy charm to the screen. Her co-star, Lyriq Bent, okay, so he’s one of those actors that you kinda recognize, but you can’t quite remember from where. Like that one time I thought I recognized an old classmate on the subway… turns out, he was just a guy with similar glasses.

Right from the get-go, the film tries to box you into this psychological dreamscape. Honestly, it was almost as confusing as trying to differentiate all the thousands of islands in our beloved archipelago during a Midsummer sailing trip. You think you’re on Utö, but no, surprise, it’s Nåttarö! Ingen kan veta, not even the most experienced sailor.

Did I love it? Not sure. It had these chilling scenes oscillating between suspense and an unsettling domestic drama, reminiscent of unpacking an IKEA flat-pack furniture — with parts missing.

And can we just talk about the themes? Relationships, isolation, the personal vs. the collective. I guess kinda relatable, like when you’re at a loud family gathering and feel like you’re in your little boxed world. Ja, vi är alla en smula introverta ibland.

Also, that soundtrack! Remember old vinyl crackles in your farfar’s cabin by the lake? Yeah, that’s the vibe. It adds an ambiance that’s both nostalgic and fresh, like slipping back into your childhood snow boots only to find they fit better then ever.

Would I recommend it? Ja, maybe on a cozy Wednesday evening when the rain smatters against your windowpane — typical Swedish weather, a film that’s strange, yet, oddly comforting. Like sultisar on a kvadratisk talrik.

Check the trailer below