CASTLE ROCK “The Box” (S1E4): Another Strong & Mysterious Entry

This week’s episode of Castle Rock is named “The Box” which I think is perfect, since so many of its moving parts rely on secrets hidden away, buried, that have not yet been revealed (there are also a lot of physical and emotional boxes at play here). I’m thinking we won’t see those answers until closer to the end of this ten-episode season, but this week leaves some additional bread crumbs. It’s not always easy to wait, and sometimes shows take too long to find their pacing, but Castle Rock has a comfortable grasp on its own.
Things have been tough for the residents of this damaged Maine town, and things aren’t looking up. The Box once again shows the disturbing world of Castle Rock in all its forms: supernatural and very much human.

There’s a delicate balance of the two. When Henry (André Holland) goes looking for Vince Desjardins (fans might recognize the name from its use in The Body and subsequent Stand by me) finding his barber brother, we get some intel on the mystery from his childhood. In this bleak house in the woods Henry also finds a shed in the backyard, where it seems someone or something was kept. Interest peaked. The townspeople seem determined to lay all of the blame at Henry’s feet, but as we progress, one certainty is that nothing is that simple. His disappearance as a child will undoubtedly tie in to the town and its malevolence, but how? For now, The Box illuminates a possibility – the Desjardins brothers.

Ruth (Sissy Spacek) and Alan (Scott Glenn) get some more screen time in this episode, but it’s really never enough, is it? These seasoned actors manage to divert all eyes on them. Glenn and Henry take a trip to Augusta to track down Henry’s father’s remains and the two finally talk about the relationship between Glenn and Henry’s mother. Henry also shares a scene his mother (Spacek), as the two attempts to work through their demons.

We also get some dark humor, served up with the talent of Melanie Lynskey, as she tries to sell Lacy’s (Terry O’Quinn) house. She actually makes a reference to a character in The Dead Zone, which takes place in Castle Rock.

Settles In As It Advances

There are some revelations that Henry doesn’t take well, to the point that he commits to the idea of giving up and leaving. Though, sensibly, I’m sure this won’t happen. I do hope Molly and Henry have more scenes together, because the two share a great chemistry. There’s a bond between this pair, and the workings of which have yet to be fully tackled. With Lynskey’s charm and Holland’s subtlety, the decision to make this duo the stars of Castle Rock is solidified.

The Kid (Bill Skarsgård) and Henry go over options, with Shawshank unable to deny his existence anymore. There’s a creepy scene with him and the wardens lackey Reeves (Josh Cooke), where he quotes scripture, and again- makes an impression- but otherwise the Kid continues to be an enigma.

However, this episode -like bookends- begins and ends with Dennis Zalewski (Noel Fisher). I try to recap without spoiling specifics, just a basic roundup, and I’m going to do the same here. In the beginning we see the routines of his job, and his consistent appraisal of the misdoings at Shawshank prison. He tries to find ways to ease it, but the stress is getting to him. By Its end, The Box finishes with a skin crawling unraveling. Is it evil or is it something else? There’s some great song choices in Zalewski’s scenes, including “Crying” by Roy Orbison.

The creators do a terrific job at creating unease without being showy. There’s a presence of discord, of underlying evil, but there is also the dramatic drive of our characters. Living here has taken its toll, and each of our stars portrays the suffering beautifully. Director Michael Uppendahl makes some very specific decisions in this episode that increases the impact of the plot. In Shawshank, as we see what happens in the final moments, the camera changes back and forth from the security cameras to a direct shot. These deliberate choices create a taut atmosphere.

Conclusion: Castle Rock’s Episode 4 “The Box”

With the writing group of Sam Shaw, Dustin Thomason and Scott Brown, we get a lot of tightly wrapped dialogue. As The Box continues it strengthens, but even in the scenes of pure character interaction, there’s an undeniable allure. In truth, we are almost halfway through the season, a (sad) but real fact. The climactic finish left our arm hair raised, and adequately poised for what I’m hoping will be a strong second half.

In comparison, The Box might have been a slower burn than the previous three, but no less crucial. Castle Rock, I’m at your disposal, do with me as you wish.

What did you think? Any idea where the show is going, or any opinion on how it’s done so far? Let us know in the comments below!

Episodes 1-4 can currently be streamed on Hulu, with new episodes arriving every Wednesday.