Cadaver (2020): Cast, Ratings & Plot
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.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 26m (86 min)
- Director
- Jarand Herdal
- Original language
-
Norwegian
- Studio
- Motion Blur
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
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 Show fewer
- ballroom
- neck snap
- fake suicide
- throat slit
- family relationships
- folk horror
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.
- Director Jarand Herdal
-
Gitte Witt as Leonora - Thomas Gullestad as Jacob
- Tuva Olivia Remman as Alice
-
Thorbjørn Harr as Mathias
Also Starring in Cadaver
· 14 more- Maria Grazia Di Meo Kathrine
- Helge Jordal Ticketer
- Trine Wiggen Rakel
- Stig Frode Henriksen Hans
- Jonatan Rodriguez David
- Bente Børsum Vivian
- Vlastimil Čaněk Vivian's Man
- Petra Špindlerová Beate
- Gjermund Gjesme Jens
- Hege Åsvang The Woman in the Hallway
- Kingsford Siayor Lars
- Klára Miklasová Woman on Stairs
- Nora Strnadová Susanne
- Joseph Wittington Man on Stairs
More from Jarand Herdal
One more film directed by Jarand Herdal: Everywhen.
Cadaver Reviews & Ratings
Our Echo Score gives it 45/100, strongest in sensory experience (60) and weakest in rewatch factor (35).
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.
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
Cadaver Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Cadaver.
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What type of disaster scarred the city where the film takes place?
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 Show fewer
- ละครเลือด
- 食人劇場
Seen Cadaver?
Movies Like Cadaver
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Mortuary, Cadaverella and Mortuary.
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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