On paper, The Cello is fascinating. It’s directed by Darren Lynn Bousman, who’s made four Saw movies; it options Saw villain Tobin Bell and Oscar winner Jeremy Irons, and most of it takes place (and was filmed in) Saudi Arabia. It’s additionally a few demonic cello. Sadly, these components don’t fairly come collectively, and the top outcome—even with, we re-iterate, a demonic cello within the combine—isn’t absolutely satisfying.
The fault lies principally with Turki Alalshikh’s script, which he tailored from his personal novel. The Cello runs two hours, however it feels longer, particularly throughout its second act—principally, the half between “I purchased a brand new cello” and “I’ll now cease denying there’s one thing improper with my new cello.” The cellist in query is Nasser (Syrian actor Samer Ismail), a pleasant man who’s put his philharmonic ambitions on maintain so he can take care of his ailing mom whereas serving to certainly one of his buddies begin a music academy in Riyadh. However mother’s now in remission, the college is up and operating—and an orchestra in Italy simply so occurs to be searching for new worldwide expertise.
Nasser desperately wants a brand new instrument to nail his audition, so when he meets a mysterious man (Bell) prepared to promote him a top-shelf cello for an inexpensive worth, he indicators on the dotted line. Sadly, neither the Needful Issues vibes, nor the truth that the shopkeeper says issues like “All I ask is that you simply dedicate your soul to no matter you play” set off alarm bells—however the viewers, who’s simply watched The Cello’s opening scene, a flashback to an 18th century live performance by which the identical cello’s music drove the viewers to grotesque mayhem, is aware of he’s simply made a symphony-sized mistake.
Nasser turns into obsessive about taking part in his new acquisition, to the anguish of his mom and aged uncle—and even the cops, who warn him about disturbing the peace. Whereas he hears solely music (and sinister whispers that urge him to maintain taking part in, hold training, hold engaged on one very specific particular composition), his family members discover his persona has modified… after which they begin assembly horrifying ends. Right here, Bousman’s time within the Noticed trenches is put to wonderful use; the gore doesn’t disappoint.
Finally, even Nasser should admit he’s within the grip of one thing evil, and units out together with his surviving buddies to study extra about the place the instrument got here from. Some contemporary vitality enters The Cello because the group enters mystery-solving mode and finds their approach to Cremona—the Italian metropolis identified for its lengthy custom of violin-making, and the setting for the film’s violent prologue. There, we study extra concerning the flamboyant conductor Nasser’s been glimpsing in his visions, performed by Irons.
Pacing apart—issues decide up loads close to the top, with one character discovering an important clue after which making it to an important occasion with whiplash-inducing velocity—the principle subject with The Cello is that we barely study something concerning the characters, regardless of on a regular basis we spend with them. Nasser, the protagonist, will get the equal of bullet factors (his mother was in poor health; he nonetheless has sparks together with his ex; he has a few shut associates) however not a lot resembling an inside life, and it’s exhausting to care a lot about his excruciating ordeal because of this.
The opposite characters reveal even much less—Bell and Irons ooze malevolence with ease, however that’s little doubt as a result of we’re so acquainted with their previous roles. Nonetheless, it’s additionally a bit distracting to see them pop up right here and there when the movie is in any other case so targeted on its Center Japanese forged. That’s not a dig on these less-recognizable actors, who’re interesting regardless of their roles being underwritten. Actually, essentially the most charismatic character right here is the cello itself, which will get a deliciously grim origin story, racks up a stunning physique rely, and makes music so stunning it’d drive an individual mad.
The Cello opens at present, December 8, in theaters.
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