Cellar door delivers a compelling mystery thriller with a solid cast that keeps the narrative moving forward. Scott Speedman, best known for his roles in Underworld film series, Fast & Furious‘ Jordana Brewster and Laurence Fishburne complete the main cast. Cellar door is a smaller independent production from Lionsgate, and while it doesn’t stand out and lacks certain creative directions, its quality and technical achievements are solid overall.
Cellar door follows a couple – John (Speedman) and Sera (Brewster) – who are desperately trying to start a family. When they tragically miscarry, they decide to move elsewhere for a fresh start. Although their house hunt initially seems fruitless, the couple eventually meet a mysterious and eccentric older gentleman, Emmett (Fishburne), who makes them an offer they can’t refuse. They can have their huge mansion for free on one condition: they never open the basement door. However, the tension and mystery of this simple request leads to much greater consequences.
The cellar door does most things correctly, but it looks basic
Cellar door manages to deliver quality performances from a great main cast. The film also presents tension throughout, with simultaneous yet complementary narratives. It even has a central mystery that keeps hidden truths out of reach. However, even though these things were executed correctly, it feels like a thriller movie made with a paint-by-numbers model. It’s technically good, but there’s also a clarity to it all that doesn’t go unnoticed.
The story doesn’t offer anything new or innovative, which makes it feel dull compared to some of the more creative offerings in the genre.
The couple suffers a tragedy and their marriage is strained because of it; external factors make everything more powerful, and Cellar door builds from there. At the same time, it’s all a bit predictable. For fans of the thriller genre in particular Cellar door it will look unoriginal. The story doesn’t offer anything new or innovative, which makes it feel dull compared to some of the more creative offerings in the genre.
It’s a shame the filmmaker didn’t have more confidence and bravado to really create more intense emotional moments. If the story beats were turned up to 11, is it possible Cellar door could have stood out. Instead, the revelations feel hollow and empty. The twists don’t make any real impact and the ending feels unsatisfying. That said, it’s not a bad film by any means, it just had the potential to be more, and that’s where the disappointment sets in.
As an introduction to thrillers, Cellar Door is a solid start
For fans of drama or mystery films who haven’t yet embraced thrillers, Cellar door provides a solid foundation for newcomers to the genre. Due to the film’s technical strengths and the fact that it adheres to many of the conventional elements found in a thriller, it will likely excite and delight those who don’t watch many thrillers. The performances are solid (the fact that several recognizable actors are present is a pleasure) and Michael Merriman’s cinematography is beautiful.
For fans of drama or mystery films who haven’t yet embraced thrillers, Cellar door could provide a solid foundation for newcomers to the genre.
There are slow, creepy camera movements in empty rooms, mysterious noises coming from inside the house, and thrilling chase sequences that lead to dead ends. All of these elements make for a decent thriller and subvert audience expectations while providing an interesting twist. But if this isn’t your first foray into the world of thrillers, Cellar door is unlikely to move the needle in terms of opinions on the genre.
And yet, with a tight runtime, Cellar door It’s a good film that gets it right when it comes to looking for a tense story. It could have been improved with a little more polish, but that doesn’t stop us from having fun. Cellar door It may not deliver intense emotional payoffs or twists that are a complete surprise, but the actors give great performances and it’s intriguing to watch how the central couple’s lives unfold.
Cellar door is now playing in select theaters and is available digitally. The film is 97 minutes long and is rated R for sexual content, language and some violence.