The Cell

The Cell (2000)

  • 45% of critics liked it
    (143 reviews)

  • 55% of users liked it
    (160,220 ratings)

In this science fiction thriller, child psychiatrist Catherine Deane (Jennifer Lopez) has developed a technique that allows her to travel through the minds of her patients. When Stargher (Vincent D'Onofrio), a multiple murderer who methodically drowns his victims and performs bizarre rituals with… More

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R, 1 hr. 46 min.
Directed By
Tarsem Singh, Jennifer Lopez
Written By
Mark Protosevich
Genres
Horror, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy
In Theaters
Aug 18, 2000 Wide
On DVD
Dec 19, 2000
New Line Cinema

Critic Reviews

  • Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

    Tarsem uses the dramatically shallow plot to create a dream world densely packed with images of beauty and terror that cling to the memory even if you don't want them to.

  • Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

    The major problem is that The Cell continuously echoes The Silence of the Lambs, only minus the intricate character interplay, Jonathan Demme's direction and the taut storyline.

  • Susan Stark, Detroit News

    The trippy, highly mannered, widely referential imagery is certainly its strongest selling point, despite wonderfully grounding (and, on the rides, bizarre) work by Lopez.

  • Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

    Had Tarsem stuck a Chanel bag or bottle of Calvin Klein perfume into the picture, he'd have ruined nothing.

  • Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

    One of the best films of the year.

Read all 23 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • moon r


    Visually stunning but thematically scant take on what it would be like to enter another's psyche, in this case a serial (psycho/sexual) killer whose last victim is still trapped in a cell somewhere. Lopez and D'Onofrio are competent as antagonists delivering the drama but… More

  • Conner R


    I really do admire Tarsem's The Cell for it's amazing nightmare sequences. However, the hit-or-miss casting and lack of interest make this a lot worse than it theoretically should be. While Jennifer Lopez and Vince Vaughn are fine on their own, this miscasting wasn't… More

  • Dead A


    This was sort of interesting.

  • Ross C


    Run-of-the-mill serial killer thriller with a sci-fi twist. Using futuristic technology J. Lo enters the comatose serial killer's mind to help solve the mystery. The fantasy dream sequences make for a good late night visual feast.

  • Anthony L


    It was a little bit like a music video and a car advert rolled into one. It has good bits and is visually stunning but lacks real interest in character and story. A brave film though which should be congratulated but not necessarily repeated!

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

Cast

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Trailers & Clips

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