‘Cellar Door’ review: Scott Speedman and Jordana Brewster Find a Portal to Implausibility in Suburban Portland

As a seasoned cinephile who’s spent more nights than I care to remember huddled under a blanket, eyes glued to the screen during the most chilling scenes, I must confess that “Cellar Door” left me feeling more like I was being lulled to sleep than sent shivers down my spine. The film seemed to be aiming for a macabre, suspenseful tale, but it missed its mark by a country mile.

In the film “Cellar Door”, Jordana Brewster and Scott Speedman play a couple who receive a luxurious new home, but are warned never to enter a specific forbidden area. This sets up an expectation of a suspenseful, eerie story. However, the movie fails to deliver on this promise as we never get to see what’s behind the titular locked door. The plot is too straightforward and unrealistic to be scary, and it’s also too polished in a TV-movie style to provide much enjoyment. “Cellar Door” will be released in limited U.S. theaters and on demand platforms starting November 1 by Lionsgate.

The Winters, who are quietly charming and deeply committed yuppie couple, lack distinct character development either through their portrayal or the script. John (Speedman) is a respected architect, while Sera (Brewster) is both a professor of mathematics and an accomplished pianist. After struggling for some time to conceive their first child, they finally experience a devastating miscarriage. In search of a new beginning, they move from the bustling city center of Portland, Oregon, to the suburbs.

They struggled to find a home until they met Emmett Claybourne (Laurence Fishburne), an old-fashioned gentleman living in a 1918 Jacobean Revival mansion on a private estate. He claimed to have a knack for pairing people with the perfect homes, and invited them to stay for dinner and overnight. In the morning, he was gone but left documents stating that this very property would be theirs, free of charge, with one condition – they must not enter the locked cellar door.

John expresses his skepticism, finding everything just a bit too perfect to believe. On the other hand, Sera is overjoyed, convinced that they’ve been given an ideal life that they’d be foolish to turn down. Although it’s clear these characters have good jobs, no one seems to consider the astronomical costs of maintaining such a grand estate and its surrounding grounds. John’s doubts spark an intense interest in the forbidden basement, particularly after learning that Emmett’s own family vanished from the property and subsequent tenants left following short stays. When the Winters host a party, one such troubled former tenant (Chris Conner) gatecrashes, cautioning them about the house, saying “You need to burn it down before it’s too late…it will consume you.

However, the ominous danger suggested earlier takes a backseat to the threats posed by John’s colleague, Alyssa (Addison Timlin), who was involved with him before his marriage and resumed their affair occasionally after. She embodies the archetypal “scorned woman,” similar to the character in “Fatal Attraction,” intent on destroying his life if he refuses to be with her. She fabricates a false sexual harassment claim, leading to John’s suspension at work. This becomes another secret he must conceal from his pregnant-again wife once more, as Emmett’s observation rings true: “Houses are like people, they all have their deep dark secrets.” As Alyssa’s revenge escalates, the potential for violence and the possibility of past transgressions hidden in the shadows gradually merge.

At about the halfway mark, “Cellar Door” momentarily dips into the realm of cheesy 80’s erotic-thrillers. However, for the most part, it’s disappointingly tame, making one wonder why it received an ‘R’ rating. The dialogue doesn’t contain many explicit scenes, which leaves one questioning its exploitative aspects if it had more depth, such as ominous undertones or intricate character development. Unfortunately, these elements are noticeably absent. The setting lacks the eerie ambiance of a traditional haunted house, instead appearing tastefully decorated by production designer Angela J. Smit and overly illuminated by cinematographer Michael Merriman, reminiscent of a magazine photo spread. Additionally, Marlon E. Espino’s score leans more towards soap opera melodrama than creating an unsettling atmosphere.

In simpler terms, the characters in this story struggle to bring life to roles that don’t seem to have much depth beyond some awkwardly deep scenes written by Sam Scott and Lori Evans Taylor in their script. For example, Sera’s university lectures switch unexpectedly from statistics to chaos theory and the “butterfly effect,” which seems unnecessary for undergraduates who may find these concepts confusing. Another character delivers a cringeworthy monologue explaining that the house symbolizes a Faustian bargain, suggesting a perfect life comes at the cost of one’s soul. However, this mystical aspect is never fully explored. Instead, we encounter a series of suspicious plot devices that ask us to believe a character who appeared simple and innocent was secretly capable of mastermind-level criminality.

Despite the numerous implausibilities, one would expect a more engaging experience from this film, as suggested by its inspirations ranging from Edgar Allan Poe to “Gone Girl,” “Rebecca,” and “Rosemary’s Baby.” However, the script seems to haphazardly combine these influences, creating an uneasy blend that fails to deliver the necessary suspense or style. This production lacks the creative spark required to harmonize such disparate elements effectively. Essentially, the film lacked the intensity and originality needed to elevate its problematic aspects beyond the written page. Frankly, what stands out most about this quasi-haunted house story is that it would indeed make for a great venue for upscale weddings and receptions.

2024-10-31 21:46

‘Cellar Door’ review: Scott Speedman and Jordana Brewster Find a Portal to Implausibility in Suburban Portland

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