# Cellar Door (film)

Cellar Door (formerly titled The Offer) is a 2024 American thriller film written by Sam Scott and Lori Evans Taylor, directed by Vaughn Stein and starring Jordana Brewster, Scott Speedman, Laurence Fishburne and Addison Timlin.

## Plot

The film opens with John and Sera discussing paint colors for their future child's nursery, highlighting their anticipation and meticulous planning for parenthood. Their conversations reflect a deep bond, with both expressing love and support for each other. Sera, a professor, introduces her students to concepts like logic and statistical reasoning, emphasizing the binary nature of certain decisions—a motif that resonates throughout the story.
Their quest for a new home proves challenging, with properties either beyond their budget or unsuitable. Their real estate agent, Jeannie, suggests they consult Emmett Claymore, a long-time resident with extensive knowledge of the area. Despite initial reservations, John and Sera visit Emmett's secluded, grand estate. Emmett warmly welcomes them, and during their interaction, he offers them his house under one condition: they must never open the cellar door. Intrigued and desperate for a home, they accept the offer, brushing aside the peculiar stipulation.
As they settle into their new residence, the couple hosts a housewarming party. The celebration takes an unsettling turn when a stranger arrives, warning them to "burn it down before it's too late," hinting at the house's ominous nature. This incident plants seeds of doubt, particularly in John, who becomes increasingly curious about the forbidden cellar.
Simultaneously, John's past indiscretions resurface. Alyssa, a colleague with whom John had an affair, files a sexual harassment claim against him, leading to a temporary suspension from work. John's attempts to reconcile and resolve the situation only entangle him further, especially when Alyssa mysteriously disappears after a heated confrontation. Her car is later found abandoned, prompting a police investigation that points toward John.
Sera, unaware of the full extent of John's involvement with Alyssa, begins to notice inconsistencies in his behavior. A neighbor mentions seeing John during times he claimed to be elsewhere, deepening Sera's suspicions. The discovery of a bullet hole in their home intensifies the tension, with John suspecting a connection to Emmett's past and the cellar's secret.
Driven by paranoia and guilt, John contacts Paul MacManus, a previous resident of the house. Paul reveals that the house exploits the occupants' hidden secrets, leading to their downfall. He warns John that the true danger lies not within the cellar but within themselves—their concealed sins and lies.
Determined to uncover the truth, John decides to open the cellar door, believing it holds the key to their predicament. Sera, desperate to maintain their facade of a perfect life, confronts him. In a climactic struggle, Sera reveals her knowledge of John's affair and her role in Alyssa's disappearance. She confesses to killing Alyssa in self-defense and hiding the body in the cellar, all to protect their envisioned future.
Sera presents John with an ultimatum: remain silent and preserve their life or expose the truth and face mutual destruction. The film concludes ambiguously, leaving viewers to ponder the lengths individuals will go to protect their secrets and the moral compromises made in the pursuit of happiness.

## Cast

* Jordana Brewster as Sera
* Scott Speedman as John
* Laurence Fishburne as Emmett
* Addison Timlin as Alyssa

## Production

In February 2023, it was announced that Brewster, Speedman, Fishburne and Timlin were cast in the film and that Lionsgate acquired its worldwide sales rights.

## Release

The film was released on November 1, 2024.

## Reception

Peyton Robinson of RogerEbert.com awarded the film one and a half stars out of four.
Dennis Harvey of Variety gave the film a negative review and wrote, "Vaughn Stein’s thriller is too simplistic and implausible to provide any chills. But despite some lurid eventual plot elements, it’s also too blandly slick in a TV-movie mode to offer much trashy fun."