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The Cell

4.8

12,112

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Sequel:

The Cell 2

Original title: The Cell
Year: 2000
Running time: 115 min.
Country: United States
Director: Tarsem Singh
Screenwriter: Mark Protosevich
Music: Howard Shore
Cinematography: Paul Laufer
Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Vince Vaughn, Vincent D'Onofrio, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Jake Weber, Dylan Baker, Tara Subkoff, Colton James, Catherine Sutherland
Producer: New Line Cinema
Genre: Fantasy. Thriller. Horror | Surrealism. Serial Killers. Kidnapping Film / Disappearance
Synopsis: The FBI track down Carl Stargher, a serial killer who abducts women and then drowns them and bleaches their bodies. But just as they arrive Stargher has a schizophrenic seizure and lapses into a coma. However Stargher has placed his latest victim in a tank in a remote location which is timed to flood and drown her within 40 hours. As time ticks away the FBI in desperation turns to a group of psychologists who have devised a unique procedural method which allows someone to enter the mental landscape of a patient. Therapist Catherine Deane has so far only used the process to communicate with autistic children but agrees to enter Stargher’s mind. But once there she finds herself in a disturbed surreal terrain where she is in danger of losing contact with her own perception of reality altogether and being taken over by Stargher.

Awards: 2000: Nominated for Oscar: Best Makeup

Critics' reviews

"A slender story that's not particularly suspenseful or involving, resulting in a movie that's a feast to the eye but not much for the intellect"

Emanuel Levy: Variety
"I know people who hate it, finding it pretentious or unrestrained; I think it's one of the best films of the year (...) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 4)"

Roger Ebert: Chicago Sun-Times
"Some movies make you sorry you've seen them, and The Cell is one of those. Creepy and horrific, it's a torture chamber film"

Kenneth Turan: Los Angeles Times
"The movie is riveting in its low way. It traffics in imagery profoundly disturbing. But D'Onofrio gives it heart--a black heart, to be sure, but a heart nevertheless."

Stephen Hunter: The Washington Post
"A decidedly non-mainstream serial killer thriller that has the sensibilities of an art film (...) For those who are up to the challenge, it's worth spending time in The Cell."

James Berardinelli: ReelViews
"Though at times beautiful and always disturbing, this is strangely devoid of meaning (...) Rating: ★★ (out of 5)"

William Thomas: Empire
"'The Cell' ends up being nothing more than a good-looking, but nonetheless empty vessel."

Ben Falk: BBC

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Ranking Lists Position

100 My Top 10 Movies from 2000 (13)

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