The Cell (2000)

An FBI agent persuades a social worker, who is adept with a new experimental technology, to enter the mind of a comatose serial killer in order to learn where he has hidden his latest kidnap victim.

Director:

Tarsem Singh

Writer:

Mark Protosevich

Stars:

Jennifer Lopez, Colton James, Vincent D'Onofrio

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 18 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jennifer Lopez	...	Catherine Deane
Colton James	...	Edward Baines
Dylan Baker	...	Henry West
Marianne Jean-Baptiste	...	Dr. Miriam Kent
Gerry Becker	...	Dr. Barry Cooperman
Musetta Vander	...	Ella Baines
Patrick Bauchau	...	Lucien Baines
Vincent D'Onofrio	...	Carl Stargher
Catherine Sutherland	...	Anne Marie Vicksey
Vince Vaughn	...	Peter Novak
James Gammon	...	Teddy Lee
Jake Weber	...	Gordon Ramsey
Dean Norris	...	Cole
Tara Subkoff	...	Julia Hickson
Lauri Johnson	...	Mrs. Hickson

Storyline

Catharine Deane is a psychotherapist who is part of a revolutionary new treatment which allows her mind to literally enter the mind of her patients. Her experience in this method takes an unexpected turn when an FBI agent comes to ask for a desperate favour. They had just tracked down a notorious serial killer, Carl Stargher, whose MO is to abduct women one at a time and place them in a secret area where they are kept for about 40 hours until they are slowly drowned. Unfortunately, the killer has fallen into an irreversible coma which means he cannot confess where he has taken his latest victim before she dies. Now, Catherine Deane must race against time to explore the twisted mind of the killer to get the information she needs, but Stargher's damaged personality poses dangers that threaten to overwhelm her.

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Plot Keywords:

serial killer | fbi | coma | race against time | necrophilia | 

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Taglines:

Once you enter the mind of a killer, YOU MAY NEVER GET OUT!

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Genres:

Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for bizarre violence and sexual images, nudity and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 August 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Cela

Filming Locations:

Bakersfield, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$33,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$36,626 (Norway) (10 November 2000)

Gross:

ESP 652,426,863 (Spain) (29 June 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

New Line Cinema, Caro-McLeod, Radical Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min 109 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The scene when Catherine Deane is chasing Carl through a stone hallway, right before she enters the room with the horse, is based on a painting by Swiss surrealist H.R. Giger called "Schacht".

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Goofs

Though "Whalen's Infraction," a brain disorder which is said to have accelerated Stargher's schizophrenia was made up for the movie, an infraction actually refers to an incomplete bone fraction and affects bony tissues, not the brain. Cerebral infarction ("infarct" instead of "infract"), or tissue death due to lack of blood flow, does occur in the brain, but this is said to cause schizophrenia-like symptoms and would not cause or affect schizophrenia itself.

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Quotes

Catharine Deane: Do you believe there is a part of yourself, deep inside in your mind, with things you don't want other people to see? During a session when I'm inside, I get to see those things.

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Connections

References The Black Stallion (1979)

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Soundtracks

"MAIRZY DOATS"
Written by Milton Drake, Al Hoffman and Jerry Livingston

User Reviews

Creativly original.

This movie is definitely a case of style over substance but the style is good and certainly more than unique on its own to make "The Cell" a memorable and above average movie.

"The Cell" is beautifully looking with impressive sets, costumes and make-up. Yes, it's real eye candy to watch all. The movie has some perfectly 'dreamy' sequences that are certainly odd but also very beautiful and imaginative to look at. This movie is a perfect mix of an art-house type of movie and a typical Hollywood-thriller, that is accessible to both fans of the genre.

The story itself is pretty far fetched and doesn't always make sense. Because of that the movie isn't always pleasant and likable to watch but like I mentioned before, the style compensates for this. The style makes you keep watching till the end and provides the best moments of the movie.

Vincent D'Onofrio is unforgettable as the serial-killer with a twisted mind. Vincent D'Onofrio is really underused as an actor and this movie shows his talent once more. I'm not particularly happy about the casting of Jennifer Lopez. I know that she can act in some of her movies but she really wasn't suitable to play the main character in this movie. Her character wasn't strong enough and she was overshadowed by Vincent D'Onofrio and Vince Vaughn. Still I felt that Vince Vaughn was also miscast in this movie. He didn't fit the role well enough and no, I'm not saying that because I'm used of seeing him only in comedies now days. The rest of the supporting cast is good and still give the movie a certain degree of credibility.

The musical score by Howard Shore was also surprising good and was sort of "Se7en" like at times. It suited the movie well and gave some of the scene's some extra mood and atmosphere.

It's a far from perfect movie and the concept is far fetched and not always handled in the right way. Still "The Cell" is a perfectly watchable movie and perhaps even a bit of a must see, due to its style, originality and creativity.

7/10

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