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The Man in My Basement
With an intense psychological trailer that leaves you with more questions than answers, Andscape’s new film The Man in My Basement is poised to be a must-watch for UK and Ireland audiences, arriving on Disney+ on Friday, 26th September.
Masterfully adapted from the acclaimed novel by Walter Mosley, and directed by Nadia Latif, the film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The trailer opens with a shot of a man, protagonist Charles Blakey (Corey Hawkins), standing alone on a beach at sunset, a serene but melancholic image. A voiceover tells us that his family has "been searching our hearts to be kind since your mum died." We soon learn that Charles, down on his luck and on the verge of losing his ancestral home in Sag Harbor, New York, receives a strange proposition from a mysterious businessman, Anniston Bennet (Willem Dafoe).
The trailer builds a sense of unease as we see the interaction between the two men. Bennet, played with a subtle menace by Willem Dafoe, offers a bizarre deal: rent his dusty basement for the summer for enough money to clear Charles's debts. A shot of the two men sitting across from each other in a dimly lit room, with Bennet's intense gaze fixed on Charles, hints at the sinister nature of their agreement. As Charles accepts the offer, the trailer's tone shifts dramatically.
What begins as a seemingly simple transaction quickly descends into a terrifying psychological puzzle. The visual and auditory clues in the trailer suggest a confrontation with the past. We see fragmented, unsettling images: a shadowy figure, a man in a mask, and a tense exchange between characters. The trailer hints at the film’s exploration of heavy themes, including race and the trauma that comes with it.
As the film's title appears on screen, we're left to wonder about the power dynamic between Charles and Bennet, and what truly lies at the heart of their terrifying agreement. The trailer promises a compelling and haunting story, driven by strong performances from Hawkins and Dafoe.
The film's cast also includes Anna Diop, Jonathan Ajayi, Gershwyn Eustache Jnr., Pamela Nomvete, and Tamara Lawrance. Produced by Diane Houslin p.g.a., John Giwa-Amu p.g.a., Dave Bishop, and Len Rowles p.g.a., The Man in My Basement looks set to be a gripping psychological thriller that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats. The unsettling atmosphere, combined with the powerful acting, makes this a film to look out for.
