[SXSW 2022] ‘The Cellar’ Review: New Beginnings Become a Battle for the Soul of a Family
The haunted house trope is one that we’ve seen dozens of times. Premiering at SXSW 2022, The Cellar adds elements of mystery, mathematics, and an investigatory nature, making it feel different enough to take notice. From writer and director Brendon Muldowney, based off his 2004 short The Ten Steps and starring Elisha Cuthbert (House of Wax), making her return to the genre, Abby Fitz and Eoin Macken (The Hole in the Ground).
Keira Woods (Cuthbert) and her husband Brian (Macken) are hot-shot advertisers who’ve recently had to move their family due to a social media campaign they’re launching. Their youngest son couldn’t care less about the move, but Ellie (Fitz), their oldest, is having a tough time adjusting to leaving her friends behind and isn’t shy about making her feelings known. It doesn’t help that the estate they got at auction, for a steal, is rumored to have been owned by a witch if you pay attention to schoolyard gossip.
When mom and dad get called into an important meeting on their first night in the house, there is a power outage, and Ellie goes missing. Chalked up to an angry teen running away from home by the local authorities. Keira feels something more sinister is going on with the house as she was on the phone with Ellie that night, and something in her voice was unsettling.
As Keira retraces her daughters’ steps, discovering carvings in the cellar stairs along with a mathematical equation carved at the base, it’s clear a closer examination of their new house is in order. The more she explores their home and history, the more these symbols seem to point to a much darker explanation of the disappearance and the house itself.
With no leads to her daughter’s whereabouts and a skeptical husband, Keira has no choice but to reach out for help to solve the mystery of what’s happening in her family home, and face the evil before they all suffer the same fate as the previous resident.
Playing more for atmosphere and mood than outright scares, The Cellar has some genuinely unsettling moments but never makes you jump or grosses you out with gore. In fact, there isn’t any blood in this one at all. Tropes such as creaking doors opening by themselves, flickering lights, and even an old gramophone with the old-timey voice from the previous resident are all tactics we’ve come to expect with a ghost story. Still, I feel like it’s more of a misdirect than lazy filmmaking. It creates a vibe in the home that makes you feel a little more unease as the sun begins to set, escalating with each passing night.
Sound design is vital for The Cellar. So much of the film is in the dark, with only flashlights, candles, or cell phones to light the way. The use of sound creates such an atmosphere of dread and anxiety that you find yourself holding your breath with each pass of the light around a dark corner or creeping down a set of stairs. There is an excellent homage to The Changeling that uses only the sound of something coming down the stairs before the reveal. The most unsettling scene in the movie is created only from the sound of someone counting on the other end of a phone, and it really gets under your skin.
The investigatory nature of the narrative made me think about movies like The Ring. I love it when a mystery or buried history is tied into horror. It opens the world of the film that otherwise would have felt more claustrophobic as most of it takes place in one location. Using religious iconography and mathematics as clues gives the puzzle more depth. The ultimate outcome feels much more earned than if they had only relied on the recording playing.
Elisha Cuthbert is good at this and it’s probably my favorite performance I’ve ever seen her give. Naturalistic in her performance, which could have been over the top, you buy every decision and nothing feels forced. You really feel for her as she tries to juggle much while also trying to decipher the clues she feels will lead her back to her daughter. It’s a welcome homecoming, and I hope to see more from her soon in the world of the horror genre.
Brendon Muldowney has created a story with The Cellar that, though somber both visually and tonally, also has a hopeful determination running throughout. Except for an odd side plot about social media culture and bullying that feels out of place and is quickly abandoned. The narrative moves without much filler at a steady pace, ramping up for the insane final act, which you’ll just have to experience for yourself. A rich atmosphere, unsettling images, superb sound design, and solid performances; turn down the lights and crank up the volume for an entertaining supernatural tale. Also, when the price is too good to be true, maybe do some research before signing the lease, just a thought. 3.5/5
Check out the trailer for The Cellar below and the film will head to theaters and Shudder April 15th. Be sure to follow ScaryNerd for all things horror, sci-fi, fantasy and more.
About Post Author
K.B. O’Neil is an artist, writer and musician living in Cincinnati, Ohio. He loves movies, books, video games, snuggling his two pups and all things Horror. When not working he can be found getting into adventures with his wife and their new daughter.