The Cell (2000) | Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

The Cell

R Released Aug 18, 2000 1h 47m Mystery & Thriller TRAILER for The Cell: Trailer 1 List Rotten Tomatoes Is Wrong About...The Cell (With Special Guest Daniella Pineda) Rotten Tomatoes Is Wrong About...The Cell (With Special Guest Daniella Pineda) 52:22 The Cell: Trailer 1 The Cell: Trailer 1 2:21 View more videos
45% Tomatometer 166 Reviews 57% Audience Score 100,000+ Ratings "The Cell" takes a shocking, riveting mind trip into the dark and dangerous corridors of a serial killer's psyche -- a psyche that holds the key to saving the killer's final, trapped victim who remains alive. Making this journey into the recesses of a killer's nightmarish fantasy world is Catherine Deane, a psychologist who has been experimenting with a radical new therapy. Through a new transcendental science, Catherine can experience what is happening in another person's unconscious mind. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

The Cell

Fandango at Home Prime Video Apple TV

Rent The Cell on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

The Cell

What to Know

Critics Consensus

The Cell offers disturbing, stunning eye candy, but its visual pleasures are no match for a confused storyline that undermines the movie's inventive aesthetic.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (166) Critics Reviews
Andrew Pulver Guardian Jazzy photography and fancy design in no way compensate for a dull, suspense-free screenplay and unwise casting. Apr 1, 2019 Full Review Andrew Sarris Observer Ultimately, the reliance on a dream world tends to reduce suspense and even narrative logic. Thus, everything is possible and nothing is necessary. Apr 1, 2019 Full Review David Edelstein Slate The Cell is pretty silly. But I admired its cinematic ambition until the final scenes. Apr 1, 2019 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review The Cell is a beautiful picture, which, should the viewer opt to disconnect themselves from its run-of-the-mill formula, will bring a sense of wonderment. Rated: 3.5/4 Sep 5, 2023 Full Review Patrick Cavanaugh The Wolfman Cometh The nightmarish visuals are undeniably effective but nothing else in the film manages to match the atmospheric experience. Rated: 2/5 May 12, 2023 Full Review Trace Thurman Horror Queers Podcast Tarsem Singh's vision in The Cell is unparalleled. It's a truly stunning and gnarly piece of work. Rated: 4.5/5 Dec 30, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews
Kathy M Gorgeous! Watch it for the Beauty if nothing else ❤️ The Images Stay with you 💓 Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/25/24 Full Review R A U I saw the movie at an SF/Fantasy con some years back playing in the movie room. I found the movie both breath-taking and disturbing, but the latter for all the right reasons with the horror scenes and the ultimate situation with Carl. Child abuse is a horror that needs to end. They often find life to be a maze they can't seem to navigate. No surprise to me that so many use drugs as an escape. Beyond this, I found the cast incredible, especially JLo as Catherine. But Vincent D was spectacular. Read the negative and positive reviews, then ignore them all and watch it. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/24/24 Full Review AB U The movie is precious not only for meticulously visualized trauma of a psychopath, but also carries a message of compassion that seems impossible to experience. It’s on my absolute must-see list. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/05/24 Full Review BigD J This film gets a lot of reviews claiming it's heinous, disturbing, vile, etc. Trust me, there are plenty of films out there that are much more difficult to stomach. Probably a bunch of J-Lo fans not used to horror. I've found many films on the topic of schizophrenia fascinating. The film was definitely sadistic. Kinda Silence of the Lambs meets Inception. It had mostly dark undertones with moments of peace, calm, and empathy for the proverbial serial killer who was badly abused, as a child. Visuals were stunning, acting was pretty good. D'Onofrio plays the ultimate psychotic villain in many roles he plays in, throughout his career. The plot itself is kinda meh. I'd say the ratings on this film are pretty accurate. Not spectacular by a long shot, but respectable and entertaining. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 04/02/24 Full Review Taylor S I typically don't just jump into visuals, but for "The Cell," I feel like it's a must. Tarsem Singh, known for his background in music videos, is so obvious from the opening scene. He brings a distinct and visually stunning style to "The Cell." The dream sequences and the alternate reality within the killer's mind are visually arresting, featuring elaborate set designs and mesmerizing costumes that contribute to the film's overall aesthetic appeal. The alternate reality within the killer's mind is a kaleidoscope of surreal and fantastical imagery. The cinematography team created a visual feast, using elaborate set designs, intricate costumes, and symbolic motifs to convey the twisted psyche of the antagonist. I often found myself rewinding to ensure that I captured every element of the scene. There was a mix of practical effects and CGI (not overdone) to bring the fantastical elements to life, contributing to the film's overall immersive experience. The contrast between hot and cold elements of both worlds keeps me drawn in, afraid to miss what comes next. Each frame seems meticulously crafted, drawing inspiration from art, mythology, and religious iconography. Singh's inventive use of camera angles and movement further elevates the film's visual impact. From sweeping aerial shots to intense close-ups, the cinematography successfully captures the emotional intensity of the narrative. The juxtaposition of visually stunning sequences with darker, psychological themes creates a unique cinematic experience. By focusing on the visuals and cinematography, it enhances the film's shortcomings in other aspects, such as the plot. While I still feel like Rotten Tomatoes was hating so hard, I can see why the rating is so low. The plot was a bit empty. The storyline was overshadowed by leaving out the main goal of the plot, cohesiveness, structure, and unfortunately, character development. The transitions between the real world and the dream sequences might feel disjointed, making it challenging for some viewers to connect with the overarching story. This uneven pacing can result in moments where the plot seems to lag or lose momentum. While I loved the cast, the characters themselves lack the depth required for a psychological thriller. It was challenging to emotionally invest in the characters, impacting the overall impact of the narrative. Honestly, I believe that if there was a bit more focus on character development, it could've drastically changed the movie and how critics viewed it. But all of that aside, I circle back: the visuals were so breathtaking that with a bit of imagination, context clues, and love for a theatre experience, this movie is a masterpiece for what it is and was one of my favorites to watch recently. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/19/24 Full Review Jing-Tang J Nice visuals with below-average screenplay. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/20/24 Full Review Read all reviews
The Cell

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

15 Minutes 32% 37% 15 Minutes Lost Souls 8% 22% Lost Souls The Number 23 7% 56% The Number 23 Under Suspicion 49% 48% Under Suspicion The Watcher 11% 28% The Watcher Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis "The Cell" takes a shocking, riveting mind trip into the dark and dangerous corridors of a serial killer's psyche -- a psyche that holds the key to saving the killer's final, trapped victim who remains alive. Making this journey into the recesses of a killer's nightmarish fantasy world is Catherine Deane, a psychologist who has been experimenting with a radical new therapy. Through a new transcendental science, Catherine can experience what is happening in another person's unconscious mind.
Director
Tarsem Singh
Screenwriter
Mark Protosevich
Distributor
New Line Cinema, Warner Home Vídeo
Production Co
Namibia Film Commission, Katira Productions GmbH & Co. KG, New Line Cinema, Radical Media, Avery Pix, Caro-McLeod
Rating
R (Nudity|Language|Sexual Content|Violence)
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 18, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA)
$61.3M
Runtime
1h 47m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
Most Popular at Home Now