Today, Don Mancini is known for creating the Child’s Play franchise, but long ago, he was a UCLA graduate. While coming up with the first film’s screenplay, Mancini caught Charles Band’s attention and got a job with Empire Pictures. As with most of the movies he produced, Band presented Mancini with a poster and a title to work with. Mancini delivered a script that crossed John Carpenter’s The Thing and Woody Allen’s The Purple Rose of Cairo. However, the screenplay as it was written would’ve been too ambitious for Empire, so Band had the script rewritten. After directing the minor hit Troll in 1986, John Carl Buechler adapted Mancini’s story for his second film. Ultimately, Mancini used the pseudonym Kit Du Bois and the film was shot on the sets used for The Caller. After premiering at MIFED in 1987, Cellar Dweller hit theaters worldwide in 1988.
%
Rating
Synopsis
Comic book artist Colin Childress (Jeffrey Combs) sets himself on fire after one of his drawings spawns a demonic monster. Years later, aspiring artist Whitney Taylor (Debrah Farentino) enrolls in an art school run by Mrs. Briggs (Yvonne De Carlo). It turns out the school was built on the remains of Childress’ old house after burning to the ground. Whitney has come here specifically because she considers Colin her idol and wants to follow in his footsteps. Also attending the art school are Phillip (Brian Robbins), Amanda (Pamela Bellwood), Lisa (Miranda Wilson), and Norman (Vince Edwards). Soon, Whitney discovers that whenever she draws a comic strip with the Cellar Dweller, what she draws happens. Soon, the Cellar Dweller makes quick work of the other art students, whether or not Whitney wills it. Will she be able to stop it, or will she also fall victim to the Cellar Dweller?
Review
While it’s not on par with classics like Re-Animator or Trancers, Cellar Dweller is a perfectly watchable creature feature. The best thing about this movie is the central monster, designed by John Carl Buechler and played by Michael Deak. Admittedly, the monster doesn’t move much, but it looks fantastic and is among Buechler’s best works. Also, the concept of whatever the artist draws comes to life is pretty unique, though it’s never really explained. Debrah Farentino, credited by her maiden name
Pamela Bellwood is entertainingly bitchy as Debrah’s rival, and her death scene is pretty satisfying. The gore effects are equally strong, with the highlight being a decapitation scene done in slow motion. Cinematographer Sergio Salvati, who previously worked with Lucio Fulci, does a great job emulating a vintage horror comic. The score by Carl Dante, who also scored Slave Girls from Beyond Infinity, isn’t terrible, but it’s not particularly memorable. That’s honestly the best way to describe this film: not wrong by any means, but not all that memorable. With its 78-minute runtime, the movie gets in and out fairly quickly, though the last act feels like a rush. If you’re in the mood for a decent creature feature, this is a decent watch, but there are better options. Overall, Cellar Dweller is an underrated, if unremarkable, gem in Empire’s catalog.
Buy Cellar Dweller from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3PLOxV8.
Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
