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The Cello

Play trailer Poster for The Cello R 2023 2h 0m Horror Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 2 Reviews 50% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Like many musicians, accomplished Saudi cellist Nasser (Samer Ismail) has aspirations for greatness, though he feels like he's held back by the old, dilapidated instrument he’s forced to play. When Nasser is offered the chance to take possession of a gorgeous red cello by a mysterious shop owner (Tobin Bell), he finds new inspiration both for his playing and for his composing. What Nasser doesn't realize is that this cello has a nefarious past. As he prepares for an important audition with a prominent philharmonic, that past shows itself in the form of an ancient conductor (Jeremy Irons) and the suffering and death of those close to him. Nasser must now decide if achieving his dreams is worth the horror that comes with playing such a perfect instrument.

Critics Reviews

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Avi Offer NYC Movie Guru 12/13/2023
Despite clunkiness, uneven pacing and not enough room left for interpretation, The Cello is a suspenseful, creepy and exhilarating ride. Go to Full Review Sarah Musnicky Creepy Kingdom 12/08/2023
3/5
The performances from the cast, made all the better by Bousman’s direction, and the promise shown in Al Alshikh’s writing show that while in its infancy, Saudi Arabian horror can easily connect with an international audience. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Conall RT 12/08/2023 A competent supernatural horror flick from the Middle East that might not hit every note (namely those of bloodshed and runtime) but still delivers a fiercely engaging story of obsession, passion, and demonic instruments. Plus, any chance to see Darren Lynn Bousman and Tobin Bell reunite is a chance Ill gladly take! See more Sietel G 12/24/2023 What seems slow pacing for some is a delicious cumulative dread for myself. Horror is such a reliable genre - while classical music in Saudi Arabia is not something I'm familiar with, this film taps into relatable fears efficiently! Recommended. See more debbie s 12/15/2023 Awful, was all over the place to try to follow, awful See more Amanda T 12/14/2023 Just saw this in theaters, really liked it. Super creepy and amazing visuals. So happy I saw it on the big screen! See more Dave A 12/14/2023 Great suspense and cool new imagery which gives the haunted item genre (like ANNABELLE, THE CONJURING) a new creepy twist. See more David T 12/14/2023 I'm a fan of Darren Bousman films and this one might be his finest yet. Unique scares, cool visuals and Jeremy Irons and Tobin Bell at their best! See more Read all reviews
The Cello

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Cast & Crew

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Darren Bousman

Director

Jeremy Irons

Francesco

Tobin Bell

Vincent

Samer Ismail

Nasser

Elham Ali

Alia

Mila Al Zahrani

Sara
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The Cello

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Movie Info

Synopsis Like many musicians, accomplished Saudi cellist Nasser (Samer Ismail) has aspirations for greatness, though he feels like he's held back by the old, dilapidated instrument he’s forced to play. When Nasser is offered the chance to take possession of a gorgeous red cello by a mysterious shop owner (Tobin Bell), he finds new inspiration both for his playing and for his composing. What Nasser doesn't realize is that this cello has a nefarious past. As he prepares for an important audition with a prominent philharmonic, that past shows itself in the form of an ancient conductor (Jeremy Irons) and the suffering and death of those close to him. Nasser must now decide if achieving his dreams is worth the horror that comes with playing such a perfect instrument.
Director
Darren Bousman
Producer
Lee Nelson
Screenwriter
Turki Al Alshikh
Distributor
Destiny Entertainment
Production Co
Envision Media Arts, Alamiya, Rozam Media
Rating
R
Genre
Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
Arabic
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 8, 2023, Limited
Runtime
2h 0m