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Drama thriller

Cadaver (2020): Cast, Ratings & Plot

Cadaver (2020) movie poster

Cadaver is a 2020 drama thriller directed by Jarand Herdal, starring Gitte Witt as Leonora, Thomas Gullestad and Tuva Olivia Remman. It runs 1 hour 26 minutes. Its Echo Score is 45/100.

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Cadaver (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 26m (86 min)
Director
Jarand Herdal
Genres
Thriller , Drama , Horror
Original language
Norwegian
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Cadaver About?

The premise of Cadaver without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Following a nuclear disaster, a desperate family finds unexpected hope in a charismatic hotel owner who offers them a free dinner. As they are drawn into the evening's entertainment, the lines between performance and reality become increasingly blurred. They soon realize that they may be more than just spectators, and face a terrifying ordeal that tests their survival instincts and challenges their understanding of what is real.

Cadaver Themes & Keywords

· 18 tags
  • corpse
  • fight
  • girl
  • mother daughter relationship
  • post apocalypse
  • theater
  • mask
  • hotel
  • lost child
  • trapdoor
  • cannibalism
  • secret tunnel
+6 more
  • ballroom
  • neck snap
  • fake suicide
  • throat slit
  • family relationships
  • folk horror
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Cast & crew

Cadaver Cast & Characters

Gitte Witt leads the cast as Leonora, with Thomas Gullestad as Jacob and Tuva Olivia Remman as Alice. Directed by Jarand Herdal; 18 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Jarand Herdal

One more film directed by Jarand Herdal: Everywhen.

Full filmography
Ratings

Cadaver Reviews & Ratings

Our Echo Score gives it 45/100, strongest in sensory experience (60) and weakest in rewatch factor (35).

45 /100

Cadaver Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, Cadaver garners a predominantly negative reception, with critics and viewers highlighting a lack of sustained fright and narrative cohesion. While its visual composition receives occasional commendation for striking cinematography, the film is frequently described as monotonous and under‑developed in both plot and character depth. The sparse replay value and limited sensory engagement further diminish its lasting appeal. Consequently, the movie lands in the low‑mid range of the Echo Score spectrum.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 40

    In terms of art and craft, the film achieves sporadic visual flair, with several reviewers praising its striking photography. However, the direction is often deemed uninspired, and the editing contributes to a repetitive, one‑note experience. The overall production design fails to differentiate itself from genre conventions, leading to an impression of modest technical competence but limited artistic ambition.

  • Character & Emotion 55

    When evaluating character and emotion, performances receive mixed feedback; some viewers note competent acting and occasional tension, while others find the protagonists difficult to connect with and the lead frustrating. The chemistry among the cast is described as acceptable but not compelling, resulting in an overall moderate assessment that balances brief strengths against notable weaknesses in emotional resonance.

  • Story & Flow 45

    Regarding story and flow, the film is criticized for a muddled plot, obvious twists, and a pacing that often feels sluggish. Although the core concept is recognized as unique and socially reflective, execution falls short, leaving the narrative feeling repetitive and under‑developed. This mixture of originality and narrative unevenness yields a lukewarm but generally unfavorable appraisal of the story.

  • Sensory Experience 60

    The sensory experience exhibits a blend of strengths and shortcomings. Visual style is highlighted for its stark cinematography, and the tense atmosphere is praised by some for heightening horror elements. Yet, sound design and musical scoring receive little mention, suggesting they do not significantly enhance the viewing experience. Overall, sensory aspects are viewed as competent with occasional high points, placing the score in the moderate range.

  • Rewatch Factor 35

    The rewatch factor is assessed as low, with numerous reviewers indicating little desire to revisit the film. Repetitive narrative structure, monotony, and a lack of memorable horror moments diminish its replay value. Even those who appreciated the social commentary expressed reservations about return viewings, resulting in a consensus that the film offers limited lasting appeal.

Plot

Cadaver Plot Summary

What happens in Cadaver from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In a Norwegian city scarred by a nuclear disaster, Leonora and Jacob struggle to raise their young daughter Alice amid a world without electricity, work, or food. Hope flickers faintly as Leonora learns about a theatre event that promises a warm meal at one of the few intact buildings left standing—the hotel. Driven by hunger and a craving for a moment of humanity, she buys evening tickets for the trio, hoping for a glimpse of something better in the midst of decay.

Full summary

The whole story of Cadaver, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

Cadaver Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Cadaver.

Cadaver | Netflix
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Cadaver?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What type of disaster scarred the city where the film takes place?

Details

Cadaver Also Known As

14 alternative titles, including “Cadáver” and “살육 호텔”.

Also known as
  • Cadáver
  • 살육 호텔
  • Padlina
  • Kadáver
  • El cadáver
  • תיאטרון השחיטה
  • 食人剧场
  • Cadavre
  • Театр трупов
  • Το Ξενοδοχείο των Πτωμάτων
  • A maszk mögött
  • 殺人ホテル
+2 more
  • ละครเลือด
  • 食人劇場

Seen Cadaver?

FAQ

Cadaver FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of Cadaver, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Cadaver?

Cadaver runs 1 hour 26 minutes (86 minutes).

When was Cadaver released?

Cadaver was released on October 22, 2020.

Who directed Cadaver?

Cadaver was directed by Jarand Herdal.

More films by Jarand Herdal

Who is in the cast of Cadaver?

Cadaver stars Gitte Witt as Leonora, Thomas Gullestad as Jacob and Tuva Olivia Remman as Alice, among 18 credited actors.

Does Cadaver have a post-credit scene?

No. Cadaver has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Cadaver in?

The original language of Cadaver is Norwegian.

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