What’s wrong with The Cellar? That’s the compelling question as a family boldly steps into an enormous, eerie house. The film presents some excellent motivations. Yet, it’s perplexing why filmmakers choose to craft narratives where characters so blatantly ignore glaring red flags.

For instance, wouldn’t anyone think, “Hmm, this house has cryptic messages carved into the walls, and those ominous symbols suggest something sinister? It was listed far below market value; perhaps we should investigate before moving in.” But a well used trope doesn’t mean the film is a fail. We find ourselves in a pre-furnished home adorned with ancient insignia. Let’s not overlook the antique gramophone rumored to have vanished entire families, and away we go.

Married parents Elisha Cuthbert (Kiera) and Eoin Macken (Brian) discover their new digs and have a few secrets. When Kiera’s daughter goes missing after a scary trip down to The Cellar, everyone just assumes she has run away. But as the distraught mother looks into their current living arrangements, the less inconspicuous glaringly obvious signs become. There are definitely plenty of dark and ominous moments in Irish writer-director Brendan Muldowney’s horror movie. However, the film offers nothing overly surprising. Even when Kiera visits the previous owner of the house, things are posed so that any eerie penalty is sucked right out.

Counting Backwards to The Cellar

The daughter of a scientist, Rose is tucked away in a remote nursing home. She is mysteriously introduced as someone who barely utters a word anymore. Led to believe something so frightening happened that as Kiera sits down to question her, Rose scrawls a note onto a page. As soon as Kiera acknowledges the demonic name on the paper, Rose suddenly regains her composure. She blurts out her story. A wasted opportunity in the subtleties of less is more, the storyline chooses to make sure the history of the house is well and truly covered.

There is just as much to like about The Cellar as I have to complain about. The monster’s big reveal is expertly brought into the picture. Some super squirmy imagery appears behind key cast members. Doors seem to have a mind of their own. And there is an abacus that counts beads all by itself from time to time. In a similar vein the indie horror film “The Endless” or perhaps even Triangle, The Cellar tries to capture the essence of mystery with a sequence of people who disappear. But where do they go?

Performances in The Cellar are what you would expect of a cast like this. Everyone is excellent and the chemistry is relaxed and effortless where it counts. The runtime never outstays its welcome but I can definitely imagine this might have worked much better as a short film from whence it came. A solid horror film nonetheless, The Cellar is an enjoyable foray into what can happen if you summon a demon with the ability to keep you locked up forever.

The Cellar is rated

3.5 countless forevers out of 5

Mother of Movies score

The Cellar movie 2022 — The Cellar 2022 cast with Elisha Cuthbert

Where to Watch The Cellar 2022

You can watch The Cellar Shudder in most regions. But for more options on where to see this creepy horror movie, check out the link below for JustWatch.com

The Cellar 2022 Where To Watch: