THE CELL
"The Cell" is an anti-climactic thriller that is more intent on wooing the viewer with its dazzling digital imagery and MTV sensibility than concentrating on the dramatic underpinnings that hold the story’s recycled plot points together. A suspense motif about a kidnapped victim whose life depends on the futuristic melding of the minds of a child psychologist and a serial killer is used as an excuse to blanket the screen with bizarre fantasy sequences that might work well enough for a music video, like director Tarem Singhe’s Losing my Religion for R.E.M., but not for a whole movie. "The Cell"’s unique set up in an experimental facility where doctor and patient’s dreams are hard wired works for a little while, but begins to grow tiresome despite the best efforts of its cast.
Jennifer Lopez is the empathetic psychologist, Catherine Deane, who explores the nightmarish dream world of traumatized kids to get to the root cause of their problems. Dreamscapes of awesome desert landscapes where innocents turn into monsters are cut short by her inability to control her patient’s most deeply felt fears. Cut to serial killer, Carl Stargher (Vincent D’Onofrio) - tracked, cornered, and caught, he goes into a coma before FBI agent, Peter Novak (Vince Vaughn) can find the whereabouts of his latest victim. Novak recruits Deane to probe Carl’s mind. What she discovers, and what remains the most intriguing aspect of "The Cell," is Carl’s inner child searching for a friend to control his inner demons. Catherine learns that Carl, like her child patients before him, is the one in control. In a "Matrix" - like scenario, Deane becomes a virtual victim of Carl’s sickness. He changes fantasies with the speed of an electron, transforming himself from a wounded child to a beast of mythological proportions. The thriller aspect of "The Cell" has more to do with Catherine surviving Carl’s dream world than finding the young woman he has hidden away in a subterranean vault where she is destined to drown. Mind control through the manipulation of dreams as therapy is the central idea behind the "The Cell."
The story behind Carl Stargher’s deranged mind is given a surprisingly sympathetic twist through Catherine Deane’s efforts to penetrate his psyche. If it wasn’t for the earnest portrayal by Jennifer Lopez, none of it would work. She strikes a near perfect balance between a caring physician of the soul and a kick-ass dream stalker out to save the world. Lopez’ presence further invests the not-too-distant futuristic world of "The Cell" with an emotional weight that might not otherwise be there.
Some other brainy video pix with and without kids.
"Dreamscape" (1984) - Lots of fun with Dennis Quaid as a guinea pig for the government who can enter other people’s dreams and manipulate them. But there’s a bad guy who can do it too. Like Carl and Catherine in "The Cell," they duke it out in dream world of their own making. With Max Van Sydow and Christopher Plummer.
"Paperhouse" (1988) - British music video director Bernard Rose’s first film about a withdrawn girl approaching puberty whose fantasy world slowly begins to replace the real one. This has some elements in common with "The Cell." Rose later made the first "Candyman" for producer Clive Barker.
"House of Cards" (1993) - Not a great movie but intriguing concept of a young girl’s trauma after the death of her father in South America. Tommy Lee Jones is the shrink and Kathleen Turner is the mother. Mayan superstition and folk tales slink eerily through the story.
"Donovan’s Brain" (1953) - A murderous man’s brain is kept alive only to dominate the scientist who keeps it alive. Lew Ayres is the good doctor in this low budget suspense classic that relies more on good story telling than special effects.
"The Bad Seed" (1956) - Maxwell Anderson play comes to life with Patty McCormack as the serial killer kid who does in anyone who doesn’t give her what she wants.