The Cellar (2022): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
The Cellar is a 2022 horror film directed by Brendan Muldowney, starring Elisha Cuthbert as Keira Woods, Eoin Macken and Abby Fitz. It runs 1 hour 30 minutes and earned $1.6 million worldwide. Critics gave it 31% on Rotten Tomatoes and 49 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.3/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 30m (90 min)
- Director
- Brendan Muldowney
- Genre
- Horror
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- RLJE Films
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Cellar About?
The premise of The Cellar without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
After moving into a new home, Keira Woods is devastated when her daughter mysteriously disappears in the unsettling cellar. Determined to find her, Keira investigates, uncovering a terrifying secret—an ancient evil has taken hold of the house and threatens to consume everything she holds dear. She must confront the darkness to save her family and unravel the sinister history of the dwelling.
The Cellar Themes & Keywords
· 16 tags- baphomet
- soul
- evil
- cellar
- stairs
- counting
- irish horror
- grindhouse film
- evil entity
- supernatural entity
- evil wins
- tragic ending
+4 more Show fewer
- canadian woman
- ireland
- ultraviolet
- daughter
The Cellar Cast & Characters
Elisha Cuthbert leads the cast as Keira Woods, with Eoin Macken as Brian Woods and Abby Fitz as Ellie Woods. Directed by Brendan Muldowney; 10 actors are credited in all.
- Director Brendan Muldowney
-
Elisha Cuthbert as Keira Woods -
Eoin Macken as Brian Woods - Abby Fitz as Ellie Woods
- Dylan Fitzmaurice Brady as Steven Woods
Also Starring in The Cellar
· 6 more- Tara Lee Erica
- Marie Mullen Rose Fetherston
- Andrew Bennett Detective Brophy
- Aaron Monaghan Dr. Fournet
- Seán Doyle Simon
- Michael-David McKernan Michael
More from Brendan Muldowney
More films directed by Brendan Muldowney: Love Eternal and The Ten Steps.
The Cellar Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Cellar 31% on Rotten Tomatoes and 49 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 48/100, strongest in sensory experience (60) and weakest in character & emotion (40).
The Cellar Echo Score Breakdown
The Cellar delivers a modest horror experience that struggles to maintain consistent momentum across its components. Direction and visual design offer occasional atmospheric moments, yet pacing and narrative cohesion often falter, resulting in a predictable plot. Performances range from a committed lead to generally flat supporting roles, limiting emotional impact. Consequently, the film provides occasional thrills but lacks the depth needed for strong rewatch value.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 48
In terms of art and craft, the film showcases a few visually striking set pieces and an evocative historic location, but overall direction feels uneven. Critics note a lack of sustained atmospherics, while some viewers appreciate the occasional atmospheric payoff. The editing does not always support the pacing, leading to a fragmented visual rhythm. The result is a mixed technical execution.
- Character & Emotion 40
Character and emotional depth are a notable weakness, with many reviewers citing flat performances and weak chemistry. While Elisha Cuthbert’s effort receives specific praise, supporting roles are described as cardboard and unengaging. Audience feedback frequently mentions poor acting and negligible relational development. This limited character work undermines audience investment and reduces overall emotional resonance.
- Story & Flow 45
The story presents an initial premise that suggests originality, yet execution falls short of sustaining intrigue. Critics and users alike point to predictable tropes, pacing lapses, and a lack of narrative depth. Although some viewers find the psychological twists interesting, the overall plot coherence remains inconsistent. Consequently, the film’s storytelling is regarded as modestly effective but largely unremarkable.
- Sensory Experience 60
Sensory elements such as sound design and visual style receive relatively positive remarks. Reviewers highlight a haunting atmosphere and occasional chilling scenes that benefit from effective lighting and sound cues. While not uniformly praised, the sensory design contributes to moments of tension that elevate the viewing experience. Overall, the film’s auditory and visual components are its stronger assets.
- Rewatch Factor 45
Rewatch potential is limited due to the film’s uneven narrative and character shortcomings. Some audience members express enjoyment sufficient for a single viewing, yet many cite predictability and lack of depth as deterrents to repeat viewings. The occasional atmospheric highlights provide brief intrigue, but they are insufficient to generate strong lasting appeal. Thus, the film offers modest replay value at best.
-
IMDb 5.3 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 31% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 30%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 49 Metascore
User score 5.2
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 65% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.4 /5
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 3.8 /5
See on Movie Insider
The Cellar Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in The Cellar from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Brian and Kiera Woods relocate to an old, dilapidated house with their two kids, Ellie, a teenager, and Steven, a young elementary student. Right from the start, Ellie expresses her discontent, wishing instead to be with her friends.
On their first night, Brian and Kiera leave Ellie in charge of Steven while they head into the office for work, much to her annoyance. While exploring, Steven discovers a hidden room filled with old artifacts and starts to play a peculiar device called the sonographe. The device projects a man’s voice that begins with formulas and slowly counts upward. Ellie, sensing an eerie presence, switches it off before it can reach seven and tells Steven to go to sleep.
Full summary
The whole story of The Cellar, scene by scene, with the ending explained
The Cellar Box Office
The Cellar grossed $1.6 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$1.6M
- International
- $1.6M
The Cellar Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 2 trailers.
- Trailer Official Trailer
How Well Do You Know The Cellar?
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
Who are the members of the Woods family?
The Cellar Also Known As
18 alternative titles, including “El sótano” and “Escalera al Infierno”.
- Also known as
-
- El sótano
- Escalera al Infierno
- המרתף
- Escada Para o Inferno
- O Porão
- Заклятье: Спуск к дьяволу
- Descida ao Inferno
- Podrum
- Sklepení
- 헬 카운트
- 恐怖地窖
- Mahzen
+6 more Show fewer
- Podziemie strachu
- القبو
- The Cellar - Verlorene Seelen
- Hầm Khải Huyền
- Rūsys
- 10 stopnic do pekla
Seen The Cellar?
Movies Like The Cellar
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Cellar Door, The Cellar and Cellar Dweller.
The Cellar FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Cellar, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Cellar?
The Cellar runs 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes).
When was The Cellar released?
The Cellar was released on April 15, 2022.
Who directed The Cellar?
The Cellar was directed by Brendan Muldowney.
More films by Brendan Muldowney Who is in the cast of The Cellar?
The Cellar stars Elisha Cuthbert as Keira Woods, Eoin Macken as Brian Woods and Abby Fitz as Ellie Woods, among 10 credited actors.
How much did The Cellar make at the box office?
The Cellar grossed $1.6 million worldwide.
How is The Cellar rated?
The Cellar has 5.3/10 on IMDb, 31% on Rotten Tomatoes, 49 on Metacritic and 65% on TMDB.
Does The Cellar have a post-credit scene?
No. The Cellar has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
