The Cello is a 2023 supernatural horror film about an aspiring cellist whose new instrument carries a sinister history. Cheryl Eddy’s review for Gizmodo’s io9 finds an intriguing premise, effective gore and a more engaging investigation in the later story—but also a long second act and characters who never feel fully developed.
What is The Cello about?
Set initially in Riyadh, the film follows Nasser, an aspiring cellist who buys an instrument from a mysterious seller. As the cello’s music and past take hold, danger reaches the people around him. The story eventually brings Nasser and the surviving characters to Cremona, Italy, as they try to uncover the instrument’s origins.
Rotten Tomatoes identifies Samer Ismail as Nasser, Tobin Bell as the seller Vincent, and Jeremy Irons as Francesco, a conductor figure. Darren Lynn Bousman directed the film; Turki Al Alshikh wrote the screenplay, adapting his own novel. Elham Ali, Mila Al Zahrani, Suad Abdullah, Muhanad Al-Hamdi and Baraa Alem are also among the cast.
What does the review think works—and what does not?
The cursed-cello premise and gore
Eddy describes the premise as compelling on paper: a sinister instrument gives the supernatural story a tangible center, while its origins provide a macabre mystery to explore. Her review also credits the film’s gore as effective. Those are the review’s judgments, not a claim of critical consensus.
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The slow middle and thin characterization
The main reservations are pacing and character development. Eddy finds the second act drawn out and the characters underwritten, which makes the film’s setup harder to convert into sustained tension. The story gains energy, in her view, once Nasser and his surviving friends investigate the cello’s history. That shift gives the mystery a clearer purpose, even though it does not erase the earlier drag.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Film details and release
Rotten Tomatoes lists The Cello as a 2023 horror/mystery thriller with a two-hour runtime, an R rating and Arabic as its original language. It records a limited theatrical release in the United States on December 8, 2023. That release information does not establish where the film can be streamed, rented or purchased now; availability depends on current listings and region.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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- Number of discs: 1
Rank #3
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