Written and directed by Nadia Latif, co-written by Walter Mosley, author of the novel of the same name that the film is based upon. Charles Blakey, an African American man living in Sag Harbor, is stuck in a rut, out of luck and about to lose his ancestral home when a peculiar white businessman with a European accent offers to rent his basement for the summer. Starring: Corey Hawkins, Willem Dafoe, Anna Diop, Brian Bovell, Mark Arnold, Jonathan Ajayi and Tamara Lawrance.
It’s been said countless times but creating that air of tension and dark possibilities that comes with the horror territory, is perfect for exploring societal issues. Particularly when it comes to those like race which can so delightfully make people uncomfortable and force them to open up their perspective. Nadia Latif creates a fascinating air to The Man in My Basement, using that ominous vibe to her advantage to draw people in with the mystery, while actually building a complex story of race, culture, heritage, accountability, shame and grief.
Walter Mosley’s writing asks a lot of interesting questions and Latif frames them in an unusual and enigmatic manner. The pairing makes you have such a deep desire for answers while they will never be provided because there are no clear answers to most of its questions. That comes with its advantages and disadvantages, some may leave The Man in My Basement feeling unsatisfied but it’s hard to argue that either way it isn’t an intriguing and layered viewing experience.
There’s a terrific tension that runs all throughout The Man in My Basement, which is paired with an excellent score from Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe to really build a compelling atmosphere. It can meander at times and struggle to put together every element of its story seamlessly. Often feeling like Charles’ (Corey Hawkins) journey and his battle of wills and endurance with Anniston (Willem Dafoe) are two separate stories, rather than one complicated machine to explore the poignant themes of the story.
However, one thing that is unsurprisingly consistent is the quality of the performances. Corey Hawkins is superbly broken in this enthrallingly messy, conflicted role. Willem Dafoe manages to create a persona which is somehow both utterly controlled and composed while entirely unhinged. It’s something that he excels at and proves it yet again in The Man in My Basement. Anna Diop adds a great variety into the mix, with this very graceful, principled, caring character who is almost a breath of fresh air in the darkness of the story. Jonathan Ajayi then adds further contrast with his optimistic and energetic presence. One that’s so well complimented by the charm and kindness of Tamara Lawrance’s performance.
The Man in My Basement feels like one of those novels that must have been extremely difficult to adapt because it asks such complicated questions and not always directly, but Nadia Latif does a terrific job of bringing it to life. It isn’t without its flaws, it can struggle to fully bring everything together and not every aspect of the story packs the right punch but it’s nevertheless an engaging, intriguing piece of cinema. There’s a strong atmosphere, superb performances from Corey Hawkins and Willem Dafoe, whose fight to the finish you won’t forget anytime soon. It may not capture all of the sharpness and edge that it’s going for but it’s very worth the watch.
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