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Horror film

The Cellar (2022): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

The Cellar (2022) movie poster

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.

IMDb rating
5.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
31%
worldwide gross
$1.6M
Echo Score
48
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The Cellar (2022) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 30m (90 min)
Genre
Horror
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

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
  • canadian woman
  • ireland
  • ultraviolet
  • daughter
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Cast & crew

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.

Also Starring in The Cellar

· 6 more
From the director

More from Brendan Muldowney

More films directed by Brendan Muldowney: Love Eternal and The Ten Steps.

Full filmography
Ratings

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).

48 /100

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.

Plot

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

Read the full summary
Box office

The Cellar Box Office

The Cellar grossed $1.6 million worldwide.

2022 box office

Worldwide gross

$1.6M

International
$1.6M
Videos

The Cellar Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 2 trailers.

The Cellar - Official Trailer [HD] | A Shudder Original
  • Trailer Official Trailer
Quiz

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

  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

Who are the members of the Woods family?

Details

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
  • Podziemie strachu
  • القبو
  • The Cellar - Verlorene Seelen
  • Hầm Khải Huyền
  • Rūsys
  • 10 stopnic do pekla

Seen The Cellar?

FAQ

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.

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