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The Cell poster

THE CELL

2000 US HMDB
August 18, 2000

A psychotherapist journeys inside a comatose serial killer in the hopes of saving his latest victim.

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Crew

Production: Donna Langley (Executive Producer)Carolyn Manetti (Executive Producer)Julio Caro (Producer)Eric McLeod (Producer)
Screenplay: Mark Protosevich (Screenplay)
Music: Howard Shore (Original Music Composer)
Cinematography: Paul Laufer (Director of Photography)

REVIEWS (1)

Marco Castellini
There is a mad multi-murderer who kidnaps young girls and keeps them trapped in an airtight room with glass walls until, after a few hours, a special automated machine floods the accommodation and watches them drown. The federal police manage to capture him, but the serial killer, due to a severe brain dysfunction, falls into a coma. Now you have to find a way to interrogate him because the madman, before being caught, managed to kidnap the last girl who, locked in the trap room, risks drowning too. The last resource to extract information from the killer is a newly invented machine that allows entering the brain and thoughts of people in a coma; a doctor attempts the task of diving into the criminal's psyche but it will not be easy… "The Cell" represents yet another wasted opportunity: the director (made famous for directing the advertisements of famous products like Nike, Coca-cola, and Levi's) had at his disposal an excellent cast, an intriguing story, and great special effects but he managed to direct a film that, although visually impactful, fails to convey anything to the viewer and, in some points, risks becoming ridiculous (one above all the scene in which Lopez appears dressed as Santa). Tarsem, defining his first film, had stated: "It looks like a film written by Dario Argento and directed by Ken Russell", frankly a bit exaggerated.
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COMMUNITY REVIEWS (3)

Gimly

Gimly

6 /10

I can't... I can't call The Cell good... But it's artistically spectacular, features one of D'Onofrio's best roles ever, and though it has unoriginal concepts, it uses them in originally thematic ways. I can't call The Cell good... But I can tell you to watch it.

Final rating:★★★ - I liked it. Would personally recommend you give it a go.

Kewl Kat

Kewl Kat

10 /10

The Cell is a forgotten classic. Way ahead of its time, it is a cinematic delight. It could be best described as a psychological thriller but it is so much more. Don't hesitate to enjoy this gem. It is visually stunning with a gripping story. JLo is good in this despite her booty never being the focus. Yes, it makes an appearance in a side view but it doesn't overwhelm. For serious, this is a 10-star film. Have fun!

Wuchak

Wuchak

Going inside the mind of a psycho

A child psychologist who’s adept with an innovative procedure (Jennifer Lopez) agrees to help FBI agents (Vince Vaughn and Jake Weber) by entering the mind of a comatose serial killer (Vincent D'Onofrio) in order to find clues to where his latest kidnap victim is held captive. Will they find her in time?

"The Cell" (2000) is a psychological crime drama/thriller that combines “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991) with “The Matrix” (1999) and the style of Francis Ford Coppola’s “Dracula” (1992); meanwhile the sordid elements recall “The General’s Daughter” (1999). Although the plot seems convoluted, the film is actually easy to follow and it’s a veritable feast for the eyes.

The best ‘feast’ is Jennifer in her prime. Also on the female front is Catherine Sutherland as one of the victims. The only thing that takes down my rating is the early scene showing how the sick phukk gets his jollies with female corpses. Who wants to see that? How about just hinting at it or describing it verbally?

The film runs 1 hour, 47 minutes, and was shot mostly in Southern Cal, e.g. San Diego (neurosciences facility), Los Angeles (hospital), Bakersfield (the silos), Taft & Pomona; as well as the Namib Desert (mind scenes with the boy).

GRADE: B

Reviews provided by TMDB