pfgpowell-1 Review of The Kovak Box

The Kovak Box (2006)

Huge slice of outrageous hokum. To be enjoyed by those who enjoy this kind of thing

[6/10 · 30 April 2009]

Ask yourself: would you really spend even a second arguing with someone who insisted the Moon is made of cheese and refuting point by scientific point why the suggestion if arrant nonsense? No, I thought not. Similarly, it would be utterly futile to spend even a second listing why The Kovak Box is sheer, unmitigated hokum. The implausibilities are legion, the suspense of disbelief huge, but who cares. To sum up: mad Hungarian scientist who once worked for the CIA but was cast aside, gets it into his head that he wants to become a legend and go down in history as one of the worst mass murderers known to mankind. To do so, he ensnares the - very unwilling - assistance of a famous sci-fi novelist and engineers the mass suicide of a hundred or so - I hope I've got this right - U.S. travel agents on a company trip to Mallorca. Incidentally, the mad Hungarian has a very gentle Irish lilt and comes across as sweet old man. Oh, and I forgot: a crucial element of the plot is the recording by Billie Holliday called Gloomy Sunday. Apparently, the guy who wrote the song also topped himself as did, apparently - tho' don't take my word for it - many associated with the recording. So far, so batty, so put your feet up, give rational thinking the night off and settle in for a generous slice of 24 carat hokum. If you like this sort of schlock, you'll love this, if you don't, you won't. Now, can't be fairer than that.