Cell (film)

For the 2000 film, see The Cell.
Cell

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Tod Williams
Produced by
Screenplay by
Based on Cell
by Stephen King
Starring
Music by Marcelo Zarvos
Cinematography Michael Simmonds
Edited by Jacob Craycroft
Production
company
  • Benaroya Pictures[1]
  • International Film Trust
  • 120dB Films
  • Cargo Entertainment
  • The Genre Company[1]
  • Don Nafia
Distributed by

Saban Films (US)[1]

Signature Entertainment (UK) [2]
Release dates
  • June 10, 2016 (2016-06-10)
Running time
 98 minutes[2]
Country United States
Language English
Box office $735,841[3]

Cell is a 2016 American science fiction horror film based on the 2006 novel of the same name by Stephen King. The film is directed by Tod Williams with a screenplay by King and Adam Alleca. The film stars John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson, and Isabelle Fuhrman. The film was released on June 10, 2016 to video on demand, prior to a limited release scheduled for July 8, 2016.[4]

Cell was panned by critics upon its release; most criticized the film's acting and plot.

Synopsis

When an electronic signal is broadcast across mobile networks worldwide, cell phone users are instantly and dangerously re-programmed into rabid killers. Heading north through New England to find his estranged wife and son, Clay Riddell is joined by a group of survivors to battle the horde of murderous “phoners” as their world descends into apocalyptic madness.[5][6]

Cast

Background

The film is based on the 2006 novel of the same name by Stephen King. In March 2006 it was announced that Dimension Films had bought the film rights to the book and that Eli Roth would direct. Bob Weinstein, the head of Dimension Films, stated that Roth would make the film after finishing Hostel 2.[7] In February 2007 Dimension hired Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski to write the screenplay.[8] On June 15, 2007, Eli Roth posted in his MySpace blog that he would not be directing Cell "anytime soon", as he planned to spend the rest of the year writing other projects. On July 10, 2009, he announced he had left the project, saying:

There was just sort of a difference in opinion on how to make the film and what the story should be, and there’s a different direction the studio wants to go with it. It was very friendly because it’s the Weinsteins, they made Inglourious Basterds and we’re all friends. I said, ‘I’m not really interested in doing the film this way. You guys go ahead and I’m going to make my own films.’ I’ve also learned that I really am only interested in directing original stories that I write, that’s another thing I learned through that whole process.[9]

On November 11, 2009, Stephen King announced at a book signing in Dundalk, Maryland that he had finished a screenplay. He stated that because fans didn't like the ending of the book, he had changed it for the film.[10]

Production

John Cusack was the first actor announced to have joined the film in October 2012.[11] Samuel L. Jackson was cast as Tom McCourt in November 2013.[12] Isabelle Fuhrman was announced as Alice on February 5, 2014.[13] The next day, Stacy Keach was cast in an unnamed role of a headmaster.[14]

Filming took place in January 2014 over 25 days in Atlanta, Georgia.[15]

Release

In February 2015, the producers of the film announced that Clarius Entertainment had acquired distribution rights.[16] The company, now called Aviron Pictures, later dropped the film.[17] Saban Films later acquired distribution rights to the film.[18] It was to receive its world premiere at FrightFest as part of the Glasgow Film Festival but was replaced at the last minute by Pandemic.[19] The film was released on June 10, 2016, to video on demand, prior to opening in a limited release on July 8, 2016.[1]

Reception

Cell was panned by critics.[20] On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 7% based on 42 reviews and a weighted average score of 3.8/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Shoddily crafted and devoid of suspense, Cell squanders a capable cast and Stephen King's once-prescient source material on a bland rehash of zombie cliches."[21] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 38 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".[22] Bob Grimm of CV Independent wrote that the movie "is easily one of the worst adaptations ever of a King story."[23] Arts BHAM's Corey Craft called the film "dull", "a trial to get through" and gave it 1 1⁄2 stars out of 5.[24] Nico Lang of Consequence of Sound called the film "unnecessarily glum and grim," as well as "pretty dumb."[25] Patrick Cooper of Bloody Disgusting called it a "forgettable adaptation" and further stated that "the story packs absolutely no punch and the solid stable of actors look bored for most of the film."[26]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Evry, Max (April 26, 2016). "Cell Trailer and Poster: John Cusack & Samuel L. Jackson & Zombies". Comingsoon.net. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Cell (15)". British Board of Film Classification. November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Cell". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  4. ↑ Miska, Brad (April 26, 2016). "The 'CELL' Trailer Rings in a Zombie-esque Apocalypse!". Bloody-Disgusting.com. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  5. ↑ Jacob Hall (2016-04-26). "John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson Battle the Talking Dead". SlashFilm. Retrieved 2016-07-11.
  6. ↑ Tai Freligh (2016-07-05). "Movie Review – Cell (2016)". Flickering Myth. Retrieved 2016-07-11.
  7. ↑ Fleming, Michael (7 March 2006). "Dimension hits speed dial". variety.com. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  8. ↑ Fleming, Michael (27 February 2007). "'Scanners' moves to new dimension". variety.com. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  9. ↑ Douglas, Edward. "Eli Roth Not Involved with Hostel III". ShockTillYouDrop. CraveOnline Media. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  10. ↑ Richard Brunton (2009-11-13). "Stephen King wrote Cell screenplay". Filmstalker. Retrieved 2016-07-11.
  11. ↑ Kay, Jeremy (31 October 2012). "John Cusack to star in Cargo's Stephen King adaptation Cell". screendaily.com. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  12. ↑ McClintock, Pamela (4 November 2013). "AFM: Samuel L. Jackson Joins Cast of 'Cell'". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  13. ↑ Fleming Jr, Mike (5 February 2014). "Isabelle Fuhrman Joins Stephen King's 'The Cell'". deadline.com. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  14. ↑ McNary, Dave (6 February 2014). "Berlin: Isabelle Fuhrman, Stacy Keach Join Stephen King Adaptation 'Cell'". variety.com. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  15. ↑ Fletcher, Rosie (18 February 2016). "Cell is set to give a signal boost to a new kind of zombie movie". gamesradar.com. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  16. ↑ Logan, Elizabeth (February 5, 2015). "Clarius Entertainment Acquires 'Cell,' Starring John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson". Indiewire.com. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Stephen King's Cell No Longer Has US Distribution". BoxOfficeFlops.com. December 10, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Cell (2016)". Filmratings.com. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  19. ↑ Unsworth, Martin (22 January 2016). "PANDEMIC Added to Film4 FrightFest Glasgow". Starburst. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  20. ↑ Liz Calvario (2014-06-14). "'Cell' Review Roundup: Critics Agree That The Stephen King Adaptation Is Unimpressive". IndieWire. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  21. ↑ "Cell (2016)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved 2016-08-28.
  22. ↑ "Cell Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 2016-08-09.
  23. ↑ Bob Grimm (2014-06-14). "'Cell' Wastes Stephen King's Plot While Illustrating the Decline of John Cusack's Career". CV Independent. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  24. ↑ Corey Craft (2014-06-11). "FILM REVIEW: 'Cell'". artsBHAM. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  25. ↑ Nico Lang (2014-06-13). "A Stephen King adaptation that starts promising and devolves into nonsense". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  26. ↑ Patrick Cooper (2014-06-13). "Stephen King's 'Cell' Is Another Forgettable Adaptation". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 2016-06-15.

External links

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