The Cellar (2022) – A Haunting Descent into Mathematical Madness
The Cellar (2022), written and directed by Brendan Muldowney, is a slow-burning Irish supernatural horror film that takes viewers deep into the chilling void of the unknown—where ancient symbols, eerie equations, and family dread converge. Starring Elisha Cuthbert and Eoin Macken, the film combines haunted house tropes with Lovecraftian horror, offering a unique twist on the genre, though it stumbles slightly with pacing and originality.
The story follows Keira Woods (Elisha Cuthbert) and her family as they move into an old, ominous mansion in the Irish countryside. They’ve just bought the house at auction, and while it appears to be a dream home at first glance, strange things begin to happen almost immediately. The heart of the terror lies in the cellar—a dark, mysterious space that seems to radiate an unnatural energy. When their teenage daughter Ellie (Abby Fitz) vanishes after descending into the cellar during a power outage, Keira is thrust into a terrifying search for answers.
Initially dismissed by authorities as a runaway, Ellie’s disappearance soon reveals deeper, more sinister roots. Keira uncovers strange markings and ancient equations etched into the walls and floors of the house—clues that point toward occult rituals, demonic forces, and a mathematical door to another dimension. As Keira descends further into the mystery, she begins to suspect that the house is not just haunted, but a gateway to a dimension ruled by an ancient evil being.
What makes The Cellar stand out is its commitment to intellectual horror—instead of relying solely on jump scares, it builds unease through symbolic imagery, disorienting numbers, and the suggestion that logic and reason can become tools of cosmic dread. The idea of math being a bridge to another dimension is refreshingly original, evoking a Lovecraftian sense of cosmic insignificance and the unknown.
Elisha Cuthbert delivers a convincing and emotionally grounded performance as a mother caught between grief, fear, and an overwhelming mystery. She conveys the increasing desperation of a woman who not only fears the supernatural but begins to feel isolated from those around her. The supporting cast, including Eoin Macken as her husband and Dylan Fitzmaurice Brady as her young son, help round out a family dynamic that feels authentic and vulnerable.
Visually, the film leans on dim lighting, eerie silence, and shadowy corridors, keeping viewers in a constant state of unease. The cellar itself becomes a character—dark, infinite, and terrifying. The tension builds steadily, though some may find the pacing too slow or the plot familiar in places. The third act, while ambitious, may leave viewers divided—it ventures into full cosmic horror territory, but some of the climactic sequences may feel undercooked or reliant on exposition.
In conclusion, The Cellar (2022) is a chilling, moody horror film that dares to blend haunted house scares with ancient mathematics and interdimensional terror. While it doesn’t fully escape genre clichés and occasionally loses narrative momentum, its originality and eerie atmosphere make it a worthy watch for fans of cerebral, slow-burning horror. It may not offer all the answers, but it will definitely leave the door open to your darkest fears.
