Trinket Box Movie: Review

“Trinket Box” is a horror film released in 2023, directed by Patrycja Kepa and Acoryé White, who also stars in the movie alongside Augie Duke. The film delves into themes of historical evil and racial tensions, presenting a narrative that intertwines past and present horrors.

Plot Overview

Its shooting is based on the writers’ depiction of the newlyweds, Mike, an African American man, and Ava, a Caucasian woman, who decide to begin a new life together in a new house. Their dreams fade when one day a old lady, Mrs. Davis gives Ava a box with a necklace in it.

When Ava wears this necklace, she and the man feel uncomfortable, and there is something evil about the house that causes bad things to happen. They also tell a story that switches between the 1930s and the present and which ruminates on the horrors of racism and supernatural menace in their lives and love.

Character Development

The main characters of the movie, Mike and Ava, are very worked out, showing the cinematographs’ love for each other and the difficulties of an interracial marriage depicted in the film. In this film, Kathryn Bigelow presents the complex process of Ava’s transformation into a monster after she puts on the necklace, but there will still be an internal battle within a woman against evilness.

Another feature – Mike’s decision to save the wife- makes the story more positively charged and, on the whole, stresses the values, which are the key accents of the present stage, namely love and persistence. The other characters, such as Mrs. Davis, portrayed as an antagonist, intensify tension in the film and Steve’s realization of past prejudices impacting present occurrences.

Themes and Symbolism

“Trinket Box” explores themes of historical evil, racism, and the cyclical nature of hatred. The trinket box and its contents symbolize the lingering effects of past injustices, suggesting that unresolved historical wrongs can manifest in destructive ways.

The film also examines the personal and societal challenges faced by interracial couples, using supernatural elements to amplify real-world issues. The interplay between past and present serves as a commentary on how history’s shadows can loom over contemporary life, influencing and disrupting the pursuit of happiness and normalcy.

Cinematography and Visual Effects

The film employs a dark and moody visual style, with cinematographer Shaman Harsha utilizing cross-focus techniques to create a sense of unease. The use of shadows and dim lighting enhances the horror elements, allowing viewers’ imaginations to amplify the fear.

While some scenes are intentionally obscured to evoke suspense, this approach occasionally makes it challenging to discern on-screen events. The visual effects, particularly during supernatural occurrences, are executed with restraint, favoring psychological horror over overt gore, which aligns with the film’s atmospheric tension.

Critical Reception

“Trinket Box” has received mixed reviews from critics. Michael Talbot-Haynes of Film Threat describes it as “an excellent indie nightmare ride through some horrifying territory,” awarding it a score of 7.5/10.

Some reviewers on platforms like Letterboxd have critiqued the film for its pacing and character dynamics, with one user stating, “It’s 20% lame, boring horror movie, 80% watching two immature people in a doomed relationship trying to have a baby.” The film holds a 6/10 rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating a range of audience reactions.

Impact on the Horror Genre

Trinket Box doesn’t create new forms in scary movies but enriches the genre by incorporating ideas about contemporary society into the work. Eli Roth has tried to add an element of social and moral issues into this movie by wrapping this genre in a supernatural setting which sets the film apart from other horror films.

It proves that the genre is not only a method of providing shock to the audience – it can also give them something to think about. This may encourage other movie producers to also include such aspects of oozing out general philosophies as a way of passing concealed meaning in their movies.

The Bottom Line

The story ‘Trinket Box’ is a mixture of horror and topical message of prejudice and paranoia Demands are a metaphor for racists and traumatic history. It is not going to change the course of horror, but it does have moments of tension, and it’s thought-provoking. The film can also be watched on Tubi, and shareholders can watch and follow the impact of evil deeds that existed in the past and are present in people’s lives today.