Based on the novel of the same name of Walter Mosley, Nadia Latif, who co-wrote the script with the author, manufactures a first feature film of stirring and disorderly with Man in my basement. It is difficult to manage deep themes with a slow combustion horror; The film’s attempts only sometimes succeed. The mystery of horror is more of them, throwing the bases of intriguing questions on its responsibility for preventing the ancestral artifacts from falling into bad hands or being sold from a desperate need of money. It is a story that is strong on the theme but not in execution.
For Charles Blakey (Corey Hawkins), he had the choice. Charles is down his luck; His mother died and he had to live with and take care of an abusive uncle. He has no money and no job prospects, only ancestral artifacts that could put him back if they were sold. With his house about to enter foreclosure, Charles accepts an offer from Anniston Bennet (Willem Dafoe), a mysterious foreigner who wants to rent Charles’ basement for a heavy sum. The more Charles learns about him, the more things become disaster.
Man in my basement has solid themes but is too ambitious in his plot
Man in my basement is an ambitious case study, which tries to do too much. On the one hand, there is the relationship between Charles and Anniston, which becomes more intriguing by the second, as well as his relationship with Narciss (Anna Diop), a friend who prefers that he holds the artifacts of his family to remain connected. On the other, the film tries to explore a variety of questions and themes, but simply on the surface.
Charles seems to be taken between a rock and a hard place, but the tables are turned, and we see how easy it can be to become the one we hate. At the same time, the film explores the rupture of cycles, in particular in terms of Charles behavior. Narciss is the character of foundation, asking different and more humble questions that oppose Charles cynicism and put things in a different perspective.
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Although the film explores if you are capable of violence when it is pushed to do it, and also what type of violence is acceptable, it becomes more fascinating when we learn what really makes Anniston and Charles of the same but entirely different. A link with culture and history and preservation are at the forefront of the film, and yet history can often feel badly assembled together; He has good ideas but no fluidity.
Man in my basement has solid performance
Corey Hawkins and Willem Dafoe have a fairly good dynamic that can be intense, even if the film gets tired. Hawkins brings expressive eyes and pain deeply felt like Charles, while Dafoe’s entire face changes when Anniston feels that he has the upper hand. Parties of the intrigue and the dialogue of the film, associated with a precipitated end, do not always do them justice, but they nevertheless raise the film.
The horror is, unfortunately, the weakest element of the film. While the relationship between Charles and Anniston evolves, Charles begins to see and feel things, but they do not last long enough to be fully effective, except for an almost extraordinary vision scenario which is strange. It breaks tension, which is sometimes difficult to maintain due to a slow pace.
Man in my basement It is not the most fascinating film, and it will find it difficult to maintain your attention. His themes were better discussed in other films, but he has his merits. Large distribution and patience will only prove to be somewhat gratifying, even if the trip to get there is trembling and more than a little confusing.
Man in my basement Created at the Toronto International Film Festival 2025. It will be in limited theaters on September 12.
Man in my basement
5/ 10
- Release date
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September 12, 2025
- Execution time
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115 minutes
- Director
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Nadia Latif
- Writers
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Nadia Latif, Walter Mosley
- Producers
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Huslin, John Giwa-Amu, Dave Bishop, Len Rowles.
