Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

The Cellar Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 9, 2021

“The Cellar” had a rocky ride to a release. Screenwriter John Woodward was initially hired to direct the feature, adapting a short story from author David Henry Keller. The job proved to be too much for him to handle, with Woodward fired after a few days on the set, replaced by Kevin Tenney, who previously helmed “Witchboard” and “Night of the Demons.” Tenney’s job involved reworking the script and managing a speedy shoot for the low- budget picture, emerging with his version of a tale involving a family’s fight for survival against an evil Native American-bred entity living in the muck under their rural Texas house. Tenney tried to deliver something sellable, but the producers didn’t trust his vision, eventually restructuring the story and adding scenes to beef up the mystical aspects of the endeavor, eventually getting the film out into the world on VHS to inspire sleepover rental choices everywhere. Now, with this Blu-ray release, viewers are invited to see Tenney’s original version of “The Cellar,” which isn’t a satisfying genre offering, suggesting the material simply wasn’t meant to be, no matter the edit.

Arriving in Texas to start a new life as a family, Mance (Patrick Kilpatrick) and Emily (Suzanne Savoy) hope to give their infant daughter a bright future by purchasing a rural home from local T.C. (Ford Rainey), who’s very particular about the property, but ready to sell. Joined by Mance’s son, Willy (Chris Miller, who would go on direct “Shrek the Third” and “Puss in Boots,” also providing the voice of Kowalski in the “Penguins of Madagascar” franchise), the family settles in for a fresh start. However, Willy’s curiosity with Native American artifacts accidentally unleashes a cursed sludge in the cellar which eventually becomes a creature created long ago by indigenous people to destroy white settlers, putting in the family in harm’s way as they begin a fight for survival.

Tenney’s version of “The Cellar” opens in the past, highlighting a struggling oilman trying to pull something out of unwilling depths, disturbing Native American artifacts used to contain the evil that’s in the ground. Decades later, Mance and Emily take control of the land from T.C., who’s aware of something awful living in the cellar of the house, but elects to sell anyway, hoping a family could hide the mess, keeping corporate development interests from unleashing the killer goo. That’s a traditional opening for a horror event, but there’s something a little different in the approach to relationships here, with Mance an absentee dad trying to connect to Willy once again, unsure how to deal with his child’s fears as he wrestles with his own. It’s not a major part of “The Cellar,” but it’s something, with Tenney fighting to give the film a little emotionality before he begins to detail the muck’s evolution into a monster.

“The Cellar” isn’t a frightening movie, taking just over an hour of screen time to become a creature feature, which is an unforgivable wait. For most of the film, the evil entity is showcased in mud form, offering a PG-13-ish rampage of off-camera threat and kills, turning Willy into the main character as the kid goes “Goonies,” arming himself for a fight against the monster. The story is populated with deadly ravens, local idiots, and a deadly pond, but Tenney doesn’t cut loose with the material, saving a major display of creature effects for the final reel. However, by the time a Terror Dog-esque creation appears in the titular location, “The Cellar” doesn’t have much energy to burn, gradually put to sleep by a lack of suspense and focus on the family dynamic.

“The Cellar” is presented with two versions: a Director’s Cut (84:19) and a Producer’s Cut (85:51), with the latter working hard to reinforce the Native American curse aspect of the story, cutting down the original opening and adding scenes between Chief Sam John and Willy, which were obviously shot a long time after principal photography was completed.

The Cellar Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Producer's Cut of "The Cellar" offers an AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation sourced from a 2K scan of the original negative. The Director's Cut appears to use the same scan while adding pieces of the original version, collected from "a personal 35mm lab print," which Tenney kept in his collection for decades. One can see the differences between elements, as the Director's Cut offers more wear and tear, with scratches and speckling heavy at times. There's no disruption to the flow of the feature, with detail retaining sharpness, managing textured facial surfaces on humans and monsters, and locations are dimensional, offering deep desert backgrounds. Weathered household interiors and goopy creature muck is also distinct. Colors deliver bright desertscapes and bold primaries with costuming. Skintones are natural. Grain is fine and film-like. Delineation is satisfactory.

The Cellar Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix offers sharp dialogue exchanges, handling emotional exchanges and scenes of panic without distortion. Scoring cues aren't remarkable, but the synth-driven sound supports suspense needs with a wider presence. Sound effects are distinct, dealing with goopy muck movement and monster growling.

The Cellar Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Intro (1:34, HD) is included on the Director's Cut, with helmer Kevin Tenney welcoming viewers to the "The Cellar" Blu-ray experience, also describing the two different cuts on the disc, challenging fans to sit through both.

• Commentary #1 (Director's Cut) features director Kevin Tenney and actors Suzanne Savoy and Patrick Kilpatrick.

• Commentary #2 (Producer's Cut) features director Kevin Tenney and actors Suzanne Savoy and Patrick Kilpatrick.

• "From Chicken Shit to Chicken Salad: Unearthing the Lost 'Cellar'" (46:12, HD) is a wonderfully candid look at the creation of "The Cellar," featuring interviews from director Kevin Tenney, producer Steve Berman, creature creator Kevin Brennan, composer Dennis Tenney, and actors Suzanne Savoy and Patrick Kilpatrick. Careers at the time of production are recalled, with Tenney fighting troubles on "Witchtrap" when he received an offer to take over directorial duties on "The Cellar," with the first man hired, John Woodward, falling days behind schedule during his first days of filming. Tenney's mission was to rework the screenplay, trying to come up with different ideas at night, also managing a shoot in progress, interacting with amiable actors. Creature creation is highlighted, with Brennen deeply embarrassed about the design of the monster, and Arizona locations are highlighted, with the cast and crew battling cold desert evenings while running around wet. The re-editing of "The Cellar" is detailed, explaining how Tenney's initial cut was transformed into something perceived as more marketplace friendly, and the movie's release on VHS is examined, creating a cult legacy for the effort the interviewees don't fully understand.

• A Trailer has not been included on this release.

The Cellar Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Vinegar Syndrome goes above and beyond by offering two versions of "The Cellar," handing fans a chance to compare Tenney's vision with the producers' general scrambling to meet marketplace demands. The Director's Cut is the best way to fly with this movie, but it's far from a revelation, finding overall story limitations and budgetary restraint securing the feature's future as a mediocre offering of monster-based horror.