Struggling with overdue mortgage payments and a looming foreclosure, Charles Blakey finds himself trapped by financial desperation until a strange visitor appears. Offering an enormous sum of money, the man demands only one odd condition: he wants to live in Charles’ basement for several months. This troubling figure, played by Willem Dafoe, injects a tense sense of dread into the story, marking The Man in My Basement as a compelling Willem Dafoe spooky thriller.
The film centers on this unnerving arrangement, as the eerie atmosphere casts doubt over the visitor’s intentions and gradually reveals deeper mysteries within Charles’ home. With Dafoe’s unsettling presence as the enigmatic businessman Anniston Bennet, the thriller builds suspense around the uneasy coexistence and the secrets buried beneath the surface.
Strong Lead Performances Bring Complexity to the Story
Director Nadia Latif, adapting Walter Mosley‘s novel of the same name, crafts her debut feature with a focus on solid casting choices. Corey Hawkins embodies Charles Blakey, an unemployed man living in his late mother‘s house in Sag Harbor, who is overshadowed by the achievements of his peers. Dafoe’s portrayal of Bennet, a white businessman with a disturbing air of entitlement, contrasts sharply with Hawkins’ vulnerable but conflicted character.
Throughout the film, the interplay between Hawkins and Dafoe grounds the narrative in intense psychological drama. Bennet’s presence challenges Charles’ reality—a man who struggles not only with financial turmoil but also with the looming pressures of race and expectation in his community. As Bennet occupies the basement, the power dynamics between the two men turn into a tense standoff, steeped in suspicion and unresolved histories.
A Slow-Burning Blend of Haunted House and Psychological Horror
Latif’s direction builds a gothic atmosphere, employing classic haunted house motifs to create unease without relying heavily on overt scares. The warmth of the wooden interiors and stained glass windows contrasts with phantom sounds, disembodied voices, and subtle supernatural hints. These elements craft a slow-burning tension that permeates the family home, while Bennet’s physical imprisonment in a cage below adds to the film’s claustrophobic energy.
The basement serves as a symbolic and literal place of confinement where Bennet confronts his own past crimes. This setting becomes the arena for philosophical debates between the two men, touching on morality, race relations, and redemption. These exchanges often play out like intense stage dialogues, evoking comparisons to the iconic confrontations of Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling, although The Man in My Basement consciously avoids graphic horror or explicit violence.
Tensions Rise Through Spiritual and Psychological Themes
While the film embraces gothic and psychological horror conventions, it also incorporates supernatural touches reminiscent of classic ghost stories. For example, Charles receives cryptic messages from the dead through his television, echoing elements from films like Poltergeist. There are moments designed to unsettle, such as a skin-peeling apparition reflected in the mirror, which nod to the genre’s more visceral traditions.
Despite these nods, director Latif declines to deliver a finale characterized by traditional horror climaxes. Instead, the confrontation between Charles and Bennet unfolds through tense conversations rather than physical confrontations, emphasizing the moral and psychological stakes over spectacle. This choice aligns with Mosley’s novel’s philosophical underpinning but can leave viewers longing for a more impactful resolution to the entwined themes.
Exploring Two Paths: Wealth and Redemption
The film examines two contrasting journeys for Charles. One path suggests that wealth might justify any sin, portraying Bennet’s influence as a cautionary example of how financial gain can be a façade for moral decay. The other path highlights the importance of cultural roots and community support in confronting personal failures and loneliness.
As Charles moves beyond his haunted home and interacts with his Sag Harbor neighborhood—forming connections with a local antique dealer played by Anna Diop and visiting a sick neighbor—the narrative shifts from eerie suspense to a more character-driven exploration of solitude and resilience. These moments reveal the profound human drama at the film’s core but also contribute to a fragmented tone, as the movie struggles to weave its horror and dramatic elements seamlessly.
Mixed Success but a Promising Direction for Latif
The Man in My Basement showcases impressive performances and a gripping atmosphere but stumbles in its integration of themes and pacing of its climax. While the film deftly explores isolation, race, and morality through layered dialogue and mood, it ultimately delivers neither the chilling thrills nor the emotional payoff that some viewers might expect from the genre.
Nonetheless, the movie’s rich ideas and sociocultural reflections, combined with Willem Dafoe’s haunting presence, make it a notable entry in psychological thrillers. Latif’s debut signals a filmmaker to watch who may sharpen her storytelling to bring greater cohesion between tone and theme in future projects.
Upcoming Release Details and Festival Screening
The Man in My Basement premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival before scheduling a limited theatrical release on September 12. Following its theatrical debut, the film will become available for streaming on Hulu and Disney+ later in the fall, providing audiences wider access to this atmospheric and thought-provoking thriller.
