The Cell
Metascore
40 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 32 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 32
  3. Negative: 12 out of 32
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  1. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Mike Clark
    38
    There's so little action or suspense that this Cell isn't too likely to multiply itself into a sequel.
    All this critic's reviews
  2. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marc Savlov
    30
    It's a pleasure to watch, but I found myself wondering if having a story here even mattered to the director at all.
  3. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Manohla Dargis
    30
    Jennifer Lopez's butt? Alas, the moment is over all too soon; the movie, sadly, is not.
  4. Film.com
    Reviewed by: Gemma Files
    30
    Visually stunning but emotionally shallow.
  5. Variety
    Reviewed by: Emanuel Levy
    30
    A slender story that's not particularly suspenseful or involving, resulting in a movie that's a feast to the eye but not much for the intellect.
  6. San Francisco Examiner
    Reviewed by: Wesley Morris
    25
    It's mesmerizing nonetheless for its flagrant disregard for narrative, character, pacing, performance and good lighting.
  7. Salon.com
    Reviewed by: Andrew O'Hehir
    20
    If The Cell were six minutes long it would blow your mind. At two hours, it's a disordered muddle of hellacious highs and pedestrian lows.
  8. Dallas Observer
    Reviewed by: Robert Wilonsky
    20
    Disappointing only because its best moments are transcendent; its worst moments, sadly, are just so ordinary.
  9. Slate
    Reviewed by: David Edelstein
    20
    Serves up some of the most gruesomely misogynistic imagery in years, then ends with a bid for understanding. Are its makers so deluded that they think they're making the world a more compassionate place?
  10. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Jonathan Rosenbaum
    20
    Almost no plot here and even less character--just a lot of pretexts for S-M imagery, Catholic decor, gobs of gore, and the usual designer schizophrenia.
  11. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Bob Graham
    0
    Any way you slice it, it is still pointless.
  12. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kenneth Turan
    0
    Some movies make you sorry you've seen them, and The Cell is one of those. Creepy and horrific, it's a torture chamber film.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.6 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 33 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 18
  3. Negative: 3 out of 18
  1. pinattar
    6
    I was quite disappointed by this movie. After seeing The Fall by Tarsem I was expecting to be taken on a journey, with interesting characters, a fantasy like story and stunning visuals. But after I Watched the movie I just felt like I had seen your average police thriller. This might be because this was Tarsem's first feature film, or maybe it was because he didn't write the screenplay (whereas he did do in The Fall) but I just wasn't as blown away as I was when I saw The Fall. The overall story basically boils down to your average "we have x hours to find them before they die", which I thought was quite unoriginal. The concept of doing into someone's conscious was interesting, similar to eXistenZ, or Being John Malkovich or the more recent Inception. The acting was alright, nothing really special. The visuals were good (not as good as The Fall or Immortals), there were some interesting scenes but not as much as I hoped for. All in all it was a alright movie, interesting concept but uninteresting story. 6/10.… Full Review »
  2. Thegodfatherson
    5
    The Cell is rated R for bizarre violence and sexual images, nudity and language. To call The Cell disturbing is a bit of an understatement. I've never winced so many times during one film in my life. However, that is exactly the reaction Tarsem is going for. He doesn't want you to be unmoved. He wants you to be horrified--so horrified that you sometimes can't even watch. There are moments which are so hard to watch, you may feel as if you are really there, experiencing it all firsthand. I won't try and convey the disgusting acts portrayed on screen, as it isn't easy to put into words. This is a film based solely on visuals, and visuals alone. It works. And I know for sure, I won't be forgetting it anytime soon.… Full Review »
  3. Andys_Reviews
    8
    I have rarely seen a film that has the scope of this one; it really tests the little grey cells to the maximum. Some scenes are truly off the wall but at the same time totally beautifully conceived and enthralling. It… Full Review »
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