The Cell

The Indian director Tarsem Singh, trained as the author of famous video clips, then moved to the cinema making films strongly influenced by fantasy or science fiction. Titles like Immortals, snow-white or Self / Less in fact they present futuristic or fairytale contexts, with which Singh can indulge all his visionary talent, presenting thriller narratives or compelling action stories. His first film, The Cell – The cell (here the review), from 2000, already had these characteristics and is probably still today the feature film that best expresses his artistic interests, all set in a profoundly dark tale and bordering on dystopia.

Featuring dreamlike sets, with extensive tributes to various contemporary artists, from HR Giger to Damien Hirst, The Cell – The cell seems to be a classic psychological thriller focused on the figure of the serial killer, but beyond the plot the film presents much more than you might think. In fact, the director brings the viewer and his characters literally into the mind of a murderer, giving shape to all the nightmares that stir in it. Costing 33 million dollars, the film earned 104 million, confirming the great interest aroused in fans of the genre.

However The Cell – The cell it was also the subject of numerous criticisms, both for its stylistic excesses and for the script which was far from perfect. Over the years, however, it has been re-evaluated as a title worthy of note in its own way, which still does not fail to arouse a certain charm. Before embarking on a vision, it will certainly be useful to deepen some curiosities relating to this film. Continuing the reading here, it will be possible to find further details relating to the plotto the cast of actors and his sequel. Finally, the main ones will also be listed streaming platforms containing the film in their catalog.

The Cell – The cell: the plot of the movie

In the not too distant future, an experimental technology allows psychoanalysts to literally enter the unconscious of their patients, to better investigate their mind and resort to the most effective therapies. Catherine Deane specialized in this type of technology, it is commissioned by the police inspector Peter Novak to get inside the mind of Carl Stargher, a serial killer ended up in a coma, to discover the place of imprisonment of his latest victim. After having captured her prey, the man traps them in a kind of cage destined to fill with water, thus causing them to die of drowning.

Catherine thus begins her investigations into the mind of the serial killer, discovering that the violence suffered in childhood has split his psyche: on the one hand there is a child, who summarizes his good part, but on the other there is is a despotic monster who shapes the worst instincts of the serial killer. Gradually, Catherine gains the child’s trust as she tries to find out what he knows about the latest kidnapped girl. In doing so, however, she ends up becoming a prisoner herself in the criminal’s mind, where anything can happen to her.

The Cell – The cell: the cast of the film

To interpret Catherine Deane there is the actress and singer Jennifer Lopez, who accepted the role because she was fascinated by the context imagined by the director. In the film, the actress also appears in very different costumes and hairstyles, which symbolize the changes in her character. Initially, Lopez had requested to be able to wear comfortable clothes, but this was denied as the discomfort of these was ideal for the sickness experienced by her character. Next to her, in the role of serial killer Carl Stargher there is Vincent D’Onofriowho revealed that after seeing his performance, his wife refused to sleep next to him for a full two weeks.

To interpret the little Carl Stargher there is instead the actor Jake Thomasbest known for later portraying Matt McGuire in the series Lizzie McGuire. In the role of detective Peter Novak there is the actor Vince Vaughnwhile Tara Subkfoff is Julia Hickson, the girl Carl kidnapped. The latter, who had to act underwater in a scene, could not stay there without keeping her nose closed with her fingers. For lack of time, it was not possible to replace her with another actress and the scene remained like that. They are then present in the film Jake Weber as Gordon Ramsey e Marianne Jean-Baptiste in those of Dr. Miriam Kent.

The Cell – The cell: the sequel, the trailer and where to see the film in streaming and on TV

In 2009, a sequel to the film was made, entitled The Cell 2 – The threshold of terror. This is no longer directed by Singh but by Tim Iacofano and the cast of actors is also completely different. The protagonist is the actress Tessie Santiago, as Maya, an investigator with the ability to read the minds of others. In the film, the woman finds herself having to enter the mind of a serial killer who tortures her victims until they die, then brings them back to life and kills them again. This sequel, however, was released directly for the home video market, not achieving particular success.

You can take advantage of The Cell – The cell thanks to its presence on some of the most popular streaming platforms on the net today. This is in fact available in the catalogs of Chili Cinema and Rai Play. To see it, once you have chosen the reference platform, just rent the single film or sign up for a general subscription. In this way you will be able to watch it in total comfort and at the best of video quality. The film is also present in the television schedule of Thursday 25 August at 21:20 On the canal Rai 4.

Source: IMDb