The Man In The Basement (2023)
88%RT Audience Score:
Awards & Nominations: NA
The Man in the Basement is a thought-provoking and timely French thriller that delves into the dangerous territory of Holocaust denial and its insidious effects on the human psyche. With a gripping and suspenseful plot, the film expertly weaves together themes of domestic drama, political urgency, and ideological division, all while showcasing the talents of its exceptional cast. While some critics may find fault with the film’s pacing and lack of insight in its finale, it remains a smart and tense exploration of social issues that will leave audiences on the edge of their seats. Plus, any movie that gives us a chance to see François Cluzet play a hissable stinker is worth the price of admission.
The Man in the Basement” is a French thriller that will make you question everything you know about Holocaust denial and the power of persuasion. Critics are raving about the film’s intelligence, suspense, and timely social commentary. While some found the ending lacking, others praised the performances of the talented cast. Overall, this movie is a must-see for anyone who loves a good psychological thriller with a relevant message. Just don’t watch it alone in your basement, or you might start questioning your own beliefs.
Production Company(ies)
Foreign Language, VOD
Distributor
Greenwich Entertainment
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Paris, France; Hauts-De-Seine, France
MPAA / Certificate
NR
Year of Release
2023
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 54m
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Language(s):French
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Country of origin:France
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 27, 2023 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 28, 2023
Genre(s)
Mystery & Thriller/Drama
Keyword(s)
Mystery, thriller, drama, French, Philippe Le Guay, Anne-Dominique Toussaint, Jérémie Renier, Bérénice Bejo, François Cluzet, Gilles Taurand, Marc Weitzmann, box office, budget, reviewed by Tim Cogshell, Rex Reed, Elizabeth Weitzman, Glenn Kenny, Gary Goldstein, Beatrice Loayza, Dennis Schwartz, Calan Panchoo, Hannah Brown, Joel Copling, Todd Jorgenson, MPAA rating, Greenwich Entertainment, Holocaust denial, conspiracy theorist, tenants’ rights, psychological thriller, domestic drama, teenage daughter, anti-Semitic, history teacher, Jewish couple, naïve, suspenseful, provocative, intelligent, cautionary tale, political urgency, smart psychodrama, social issues, character dynamics, ideological division, Frenchman’s Frenchman, delicious character roles, hissable stinker
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend: $3,450
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $3,450
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,834
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Jérémie Renier – Simon Sandberg
Bérénice Bejo – Hélène Sandberg
Jonathan Zaccaï – David Sandberg
Victoria Eber – Justine
Denise Chalem – Nelly Sandberg
Director – Philippe Le Guay
Producer – Anne-Dominique Toussaint
Writers – Philippe Le Guay, Gilles Taurand, Marc Weitzmann
Director(s)
Philippe Le Guay
Writer(s)
Philippe Le Guay, Gilles Taurand, Marc Weitzmann
Producer(s)
Anne-Dominique Toussaint
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (13) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (11) | Rotten (2)
Very interesting… A thriller about how easily Holocaust denial can be insinuated in one’s mind.
February 11, 2023
Tim Cogshell
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
The Man in the Basement is as provocative, intelligent and suspenseful as anything you are likely to see this year.
January 30, 2023 | Rating: 3.5/5
Rex Reed
Observer
TOP CRITIC
Because Le Guy’s adroit script brings the past into the present so realistically (Fonzic might as well use the term “crisis actors”), “The Man In the Basement” is often almost unbearably fraught.
January 29, 2023
Elizabeth Weitzman
TheWrap
TOP CRITIC
Cluzet is superb in the role, even when the climax calls on him to show his hand in a way that’s arguably too obvious by half.
January 28, 2023 | Rating: 3/4
Glenn Kenny
RogerEbert.com
TOP CRITIC
A gripping, smart and timely film that’s part thriller, part domestic drama and all cautionary tale.
January 27, 2023
Gary Goldstein
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
Somewhere in “The Man in the Basement” there is a smart psychodrama sharpened by political urgency, but what we get is a middling think piece that too quickly loses momentum — and peters out by the end.
January 26, 2023
Beatrice Loayza
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
A smart, tense French thriller exposing social issues.
February 21, 2023 | Rating: B
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
The film carries itself as though possessing great discernment but leads to a finale without insight.
February 16, 2023 | Rating: 6/10
Calan Panchoo
Film Threat
All the actors are good here, among them Renier, who starred in a number of films by the Dardenne brothers… But the movie really belongs to Cluzet and the vile character he portrays.
February 3, 2023
Hannah Brown
Jerusalem Post
Whatever its shortcomings, the premise of The Man in the Basement prods a primal nerve.
February 1, 2023
Joel Copling
Spectrum Culture
Intriguing character dynamics offset the logical gaps in this French psychological thriller, in which a clash over tenants’ rights is supplemented by an undercurrent of relevant ideological division.
January 27, 2023
Todd Jorgenson
Cinemalogue
Cluzet, very much the Frenchman’s Frenchman in many a movie, adds a fine, hissable stinker to his long resume of delicious character roles.
January 26, 2023 | Rating: 2.5/4
Roger Moore
Movie Nation…
Plot
A Parisian couple decide to sell an unsanitary basement in their building, and Mr. Fonzic shows up to buy it. But slowly, Mr. Fonzic becomes a threat to the family as he turns out be a hateful man spreading anti-Semitic lies and exerting a perverted influence on the couple’s teenage daughter.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Bérénice Bejo, who plays Hélène Sandberg in the film, is best known for her role in the Academy Award-winning film The Artist (2011).
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