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Walmart's limited edition home release of 'Dune' is shaped like the Bene Gesserit Pain Box
Fremen tested; Reverend Mother approved.
Do you smell that? Smells like cinnamon in the air, which can only mean one thing: spice melange! Or, you know, Walmart's limited edition "Pain Box" release of director Denis Villeneuve's acclaimed film adaptation of Dune.
Shaped like the mysterious box the Reverend Mother (Charlotte Rampling) uses to test Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) near the start of the movie, the exclusive set (out now) is currently available for pre-order for the reasonable price of $26.96. Just don't ask us to convert that into spice. Customers will receive a Blu-ray and DVD copy of the film along with a digital code — all of it housed within a slipcase that incorporates the Pain Box design and noble House Atreides crest.
The "Pain Box" (as it's colloquially known since Dune author Frank Herbert never gave it a proper title) causes unspeakable agony to anyone who places their hand inside of it, while leaving no lasting damage. To ensure that an individual endures the torment, members of the Bene Gesserit employ the use of the Gom Jabbar, a poison-tipped needle capable of causing instant death.
How else are you supposed to check for qualities of the Kwisatz Haderach?
Dune is set in a distant future where humanity has mastered the science of interstellar travel, which is only made possible by the addictive and mind-altering melange (more commonly referred to as "spice") that can only be found on the dangerous desert planet of Arrakis. The spice is organically produced by sandworms, massive creatures that cruise deep beneath the ground, devouring anything unlucky enough to make a noise above the decibel of a pin drop.
Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac) is tasked with governorship of the planet, but barely gains a foothold when he and his family are betrayed by the corpulent, yet cunning, Baron Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård). Despite all of this, the duke's precognitive son — Paul — survives the purge, finds asylum among the Fremen (the native people of Arrakis) and hatches a plan to defeat House Harkonnen and bring true prosperity to Arrakis.
A second Dune movie (set to adapt the latter half of Frank Herbert's novel) was officially green-lit back in October. Villeneuve hopes to make a trilogy of movies, with the third installment tackling 1969's Dune Messiah.
Walmart's limited edition box set for Part 1 is now on sale. The film is also available to purchase on digital platforms like iTunes (the option to rent won't be accessible until the end of the month).
"I will say, the tough task here was to introduce you guys to the world, to the ideas to this world, to the codes, to the cultures, the different families, the different planets. Now once this is done, it becomes an insane playground," the director told SYFY WIRE in the fall. "It will allow me to go berserk and really create. I shouldn't say it, but I will say that for me, Dune Part I is like an appetizer. Dune Part II is the main meal where we can add much more. As much as Dune Part 1 was, by far, my most exciting project ever, Dune Part II is already getting me even more excited."
