The Cellar is heading to Texas this month for the South by Southwest (SXSW) film festival, and this will be followed by a wider release in April. Recently, Deadline reported that the Irish horror film was picked up by Shudder with plans to give it a day-and-date release date on April 15. It will be streaming on Shudder exclusively in North America, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand starting on that date, while its theatrical release will be handled by RLJE Films.
The Cellar is written and directed by Brendan Muldowney, with Elisha Cuthbert and Eoin Macken in lead roles. The story focuses on Keira Woods (Cuthbert), a woman whose daughter "mysteriously vanishes in the cellar of their new house in the country. Keira soon discovers there is an ancient and powerful entity controlling their home that she will have to face or risk losing her family’s souls forever."
“The Cellar is a riveting story that we think will appeal to both horror lovers and broader audiences alike, and we’re delighted to work with RLJE Films to bring it to the widest possible audience,” Shudder GM Craig Engler said in a statement. “Brendan and this talented team have crafted a dark and haunting tale that we’re excited to share with audiences this April.”
Producers of the film include Conor Barry of Savage Productions and Richard Bolger of Hail Mary Picture. Benoit Roland of Wrong Men Film co-produced. The executive producers are Patrick Ewald of Epic Pictures Group, Lesley McKimm of Screen Ireland, John Gleeson and Oisin O'Neill for BCP Asset Management, Sarah Dillon of the WRAP Fund, and Patrick O'Neill of Wildcard Distribution.
The Cellar Is Inspired by Brendan Muldowney's Short Film The Ten Steps
The Cellar spawns from an award-winning short film written and directed by Brendan Muldowney. The short star Jill Harding, William O'Sullivan, Paula Lee, Gerard Lee, Frank Coughlan, and Nuala Kelly. Made in 2004, it follows a family moving into an old house in the Irish countryside which is haunted by legends of the devil appearing in the basement. After the short found acclaim, Muldowney felt inspired to turn the concept into a feature.
"Ever since we made the short film The Ten Steps, which The Cellar is based on, I have seen the profound effect and power it has had on audiences," he said, per Digital Spy. "I am really excited to be working with Shudder and RLJE Films in bringing this feature-length version of the nightmare to a wider audience."
The Cellar's lead star, Elisha Cuthbert, is very well known for her role as Kim Bauer alongside Kiefer Sutherland in the hit action series 24. She has also appeared in films like Old School, The Girl Next Door, and Love Actually, and had main roles in ABC's Happy Endings and Netflix's The Ranch. Her appearances in Are You Afraid of the Dark? and horror movies like House of Wax and Captivity have also gotten her labeled by horror fans as a scream queen.
The Cellar will be holding its world premiere at SXSW 2022. The film festival and conferences return this year to an in-person ceremony that runs from March 11-20. On April 15, The Cellar will be released in theaters and on Shudder.