Cell review: The adaptation of Stephen King’s 2006 novel, but should you answer the call?
Cell review by Paul Heath, August 2016.
Cell finally makes it to cinemas after what feels like forever in trying to adapt Stephen King‘s well-liked novel for the big screen. First published in 2006, various filmmakers have attempted to bring this zombie-apocalypse type story to the big screens, most notably the talented Eli Roth who was announced to be helming a film version shortly after completing work on his second Hostel movie back in 2007. That wasn’t to be, but genre filmmaker Tod Williams (Paranormal Activity 2), eventually bagged the job and, along with screenwriter Adam Alleca (The Last House On The Left remake), set to task on bringing King’s story to life.
The film revolves around the character of Clayton “Clay” Riddell, here played by John Cusack, an artist intent on getting to his estranged wife and son in present day New England. However, it all kicks off in the airport when a mysterious signal is broadcast on cell phone networks which immediately sends everything into chaos turning everyone on the receiving end into rabid killers. Avoiding using his mobile Riddell hits the streets and hooks up with fellow survivors, including Samuel L. Jackson‘s Tom McCourt, who head off to battle against the ‘infected’ and help get Riddell to his son.
Stephen King’s 2006 novel of the same name is held in relatively high regard, the author once again way ahead of his time commentating on apparent social fads years before they came to the forefront of our everyday life – let’s not forget that the book was on shelves way before the birth of the modern social networks like Facebook and Twitter. Set in a futuristic time where people are obsessed with technology, particularly on their cell phones, Cell feels so very relevant and in a time when an extended story based around a zombie apocalypse is the hottest thing on television, the film version should have knocked it right out of the park. Wrong. I really struggled with the film.
Cell starts out decent enough with an ultra-violent scene in an airport lounge, but slowly descends into the realms of just another average zombie flick. It’s all really rather unremarkable stuff, the film plodding, save for a few solitary stand-out moments, for most of its duration. The acting is largely sub-par, even from its two usually enigmatic leads, so good together in their other King movie 1408, who here seemingly phone-in their performances.
Then there is the ending, which while I won’t spoil it here, seemingly differs significantly from the book, and is potentially one of the film’s few positives. Still, its suspense-less, shoddy execution still leaves an empty feeling as one left the auditorium.
A rather bland reworking of a very good King property. It may intrigue some die hards but most are going to be underwhelmed by its very uninspiring execution – which is a real shame.
Cell review by Paul Heath, Frightfest, London, August 2016.
Cell premieres at Frightfest in the UK and then opens in select UK cinemas on Friday 26th August.
