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The Cellar (1989) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

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4.0/10   179 votes
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Director:
Writers (WGA):
David Henry Keller (short story)
John Woodward (screen story) ...
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Release Date:
4 November 1989 (Japan) more
Genre:
Tagline:
It's your worst nightmare and it's in... [The Cellar] more
Plot:
A young boy finds an ancient Comanche monster spirit in the basement of his home. His parents don't believe him, so he must kill the monster alone. more | add synopsis
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NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Rip Texas Chainsaw 2’s Lou Perryman
 (From Fangoria. 3 April 2009, 1:57 PM, PDT)

Before the Oscars, They Belonged to Us, Part 2
 (From Dread Central. 25 February 2009, 2:52 AM, PST)

User Reviews:
Creepy and Crappy more (10 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Patrick Kilpatrick ... Mance Cashen
Chris Miller ... Willy Cashen

Suzanne Savoy ... Emily Cashen
Ford Rainey ... T.C. van Houten
Michael Wren ... Chief Sam John
Lou Perryman ... Kyle Boatwright (as Lou Perry)
Danny Mora ... Chilo
Alex Pederson ... Tommy Boatwright
Don Collier ... Sheriff
Anthony Childs ... April
Ryan Childs ... April
Mindy Spence ... Girl in Schoolyard
Nick Gomez ... Boy with Plane
Sandra G. Katzel ... Cashier
Steven Suggs ... Young T.C.
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Additional Details

Runtime:
85 min
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FAQ

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3 out of 6 people found the following review useful.
Creepy and Crappy, 31 December 2002
5/10
Author: knsevy from KCMO

You've read the plot summary, so I'll skip that part. Let's open the show with a few glaring flaws.

First off, the family moves into a house in the middle of nowhere, opens a sealed door they find hidden behind a cabinet, and discover they have a basement. None of that's so incredible, but Dad apparently has no problem with the fact that there's a gaping, monster-sized tunnel in one wall.

Secondly, monster mobility. The thing can apparently only manifest itself in three places: the house's cellar, a water-filled sinkhole that connects to its basement warren, and a dry oil well. It's allowed to come into the house by the rules of the film, but apparently only if someone opens the cellar door for it. What prevents it from crawling up out of the sinkhole or out from under the oilwell platform to wreak havoc in the open is never explained (my guess has a lot to do with the FX budget). And that cellar door? The one hidden behind a cabinet and ritually sealed by the Indians? Well, it also has a storm door leading right up into the yard, which isn't even locked.

Third, monster power. The thing's strong enough to overpower grown men with one paw and nearly pull limbs off trees, but it can't break down a flimsy cellar door to get at the goodies in the house?

All that being said, they did design a pretty nasty-looking beast, one that looks like a long-nosed version of the Terror Dogs from Ghostbusters (I call it Slime Rat). Unfortunately, they didn't have enough money to make a whole monster. Only the front half of it interacts on-screen with the actors, and it comes up looking pretty rubbery in close scenes.

It's okay for a cheap jump-at-a-body monster movie, and I didn't see the pacing problems that other reviewers have commented on. I think the key to enjoying this film is to be willing to let it scare you. Either that or ridicule it to death.

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