‘Discover what lies behind the…’
Cellar Door is a 2024 mystery thriller about a couple that is gifted the house of their dreams with one caveat – they can never open the cellar door.
Directed by Vaughn Stein from a screenplay by Sam Scott and Lori Evans Taylor based on Scott’s story. Produced by Tom Butterfield, Joshua Fruehling, John Papsidera, Craig Perry and Sheila Hanahan Taylor. Executive produced by Tara Finegan, Sam Scott, Sarah Scougal, Timothy C. Sullivan, Christopher Tricarico and Harry White.
The Culmination Productions-Practical Pictures-Cosmic Arena Productions movie stars Jordana Brewster, Scott Speedman, Addison Timlin, Chris Conner, Laurence Fishburne, Katie O’Grady and Randy Sean Schulman.
Plot:
A city-dwelling couple (Jordana Brewster and Scott Speedman) is looking to relocate to the suburbs of Portland, Oregon, after a miscarriage.
While visiting the grandiose home of Emmett (Laurence Fishburne), a mysterious man with a talent for pairing the right property with the right people, the couple is suddenly gifted the house of their dreams with one nonnegotiable condition — they must never open the cellar door. As time passes, the couple realise that old houses are indeed like people… they all have their deep, dark secrets. Whether they can live without knowing more triggers shocking consequences.
Reviews:
“Cellar Door isn’t the movie it initially promises to be, as the material looks to explore the dangers of the unknown and the challenges of married life, with the latter taking over the offering. Those expecting an active genre viewing experience are left with little in the effort, which hopes to become a more refined thriller, and that creative choice doesn’t yield much excitement.” ★★½ Blu-ray.com
“Too bad the constantly erratic pace and lull moments often dull the story. As for the cast, Scott Speedman and Jordana Brewster are adequate in their roles of an attractive married couple coping with difficulties. Laurence Fishburne made good use of his otherwise limited scenes as the mysterious Emmett Claybourne while Addison Timlin looks the part playing a bunny boiler type of character.” ★★ Casey’s Movie Mania
” …there’s a twist towards the end. Only it’s nothing that’s directly related to the cellar door, and certainly nothing that turns the film around or injects some excitement either. And the whole thing just ends rather flatly and disappointingly.” ★½ CineChat
“Similar to Hitchcock’s Rebecca or Edgerton’s The Gift, Stein slowly unties John and Sera’s bright world into a darker, scarier realm. Cellar Door is a surprisingly entertaining movie that sneaks up on you like a high school reunion. Realism might be cast away at times but this visit to a land of make-believe is worth the 97 minutes.” Cinefied
” …the ending really makes sense, which is definitely saying something. Cellar Door just needed to be tighter and more concentrated, probably to a less than feature-length running-time. Still, for those of us who see a lot of horror and dark suspense, it might be sufficiently interesting to stream when it hit free platforms.” J.B. Spins
” …the entire enterprise feels like a cheat, a movie with no real payoff, no big jolts and no surprises in all this “explaining” in the third act. We don’t need a new character waltzing in late and using the phrase “Faustian bargain” if the script isn’t delivering that. The third act twists are undercut by such nonsense.” 1.5 out of 4, Movie Nation
“the cellar containing mystery and repressions, the damning – is noted plainly but not explored with further engagement or creative liberty. The film as a whole tends to say things outright rather than taking the time to explore them with emotion. With less textbook dedication to its metaphors and more sleight of hand in its structure, Cellar Door would accomplish the tension it intends, but its bland approach fails to inspire investment.” RogerEbert.com
Trailer:
Release date:
Cellar Door was released theatrically by Lionsgate in the United States in select locations, on digital and on VOD on November 1, 2024.
Cast and characters:
Laurence Fishburne … Emmett
Jordana Brewster … Sera
Scott Speedman … John
Chris Conner … Paul MacManus
Katie O’Grady … Kathryn Conrad
Randy Sean Schulman … Steven
Jenny Lam Tien … John’s Coworker
Kiah Butts … Kiah, Executive Secretary
Jesaar Landavaso … Happy Client
Kyle Stoltz … Executive/HR Department
Zach Feiner … Zach
Naiya Amilcar … Party Guest
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