THE CELLAR (REVIEW)

Dir. Brendan Muldowney

Reviewer. Martyn Wakefield

When her daughter vanishes inside their new home, Elisha Cuthbert must traverse the depths of Hell to get her back. A synopsis that will grab any horror fans attention with any depiction of the seven circles on screen always bringing vivid and horrific creative visions to how the downstairs garden appears.

Starring Elisha Cuthbert (HOUSE OF WAX, 24) and Eoin Macken (THE HOLE IN THE GROUND, THE FOREST, RESIDENT EVIL: THE FINAL CHAPTER), THE CELLAR is one of the ground breaking Shudder releases which prove why the streaming service it at the forefront of world horror.

Brendan Muldowney's blend of haunted house and satanic cult movie gives off a sense of INSIDIOUS meets THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE and in more of a doting companion piece than an imitation. When we finally enter the bottom of the cellar stairs there's something both horrifying and satisfying that really makes THE CELLAR a treat for fans of the genre. The full commitment the film makes to it's inevitable conclusion is foreseen with images of corned beasts and tension throughout and trails to an eventually grim version of Hell that is more saddening than other fantasized versions as seen in the likes of ERREMANTARI, HELLAISER or even LEGEND.

The film has a little problem in filling the time before the reveal and some of the investigation drags a little in the middle with teases of what's to come but nothing to show until the final third however all can be forgiven with such a well executed finale with a great performance from Cuthbert as the desperate Mom holding the family together while also looking into the whereabouts of her daughter.