#TIFF25: “THE MAN IN MY BASEMENT” REVIEW

By Amanda Gilmore

Willem Dafoe plays a mysterious man who rents Corey Hawkins’ basement in this unsettling adaptation of Walter Mosley’s novel of the same name.

Charles Blakey’s (Hawkins) life is falling apart since his mother passed away. He fills himself up with booze, can’t get a job and worst of all: he can’t afford to keep the family home. This sends him on a quest to search through family heirlooms to see if anything is worth money. He quickly realizes that selling antiques may take a while to turn a profit. So when the mysterious Anniston Bennet (Dafoe) knocks on his door proposing a handsome sum to rent his basement, Charles can’t help but accept.

Director and Co-Writer Nadia Latif unnervingly adapts the novel by fabled mystery writer Walter Mosley (who happens to also be co-writer of this adaptation). Latif uses imagery and sound design to evoke a chilling atmosphere where tension lurks in every corner. With each revelation that Charles comes to, the more eerie The Man in My Basement becomes.

As the story unfolds, mask heirlooms are discovered. They have a deep effect on the psyche of Charles. When he wears them, he is mentally taken to his past. A past that he’s buried deep within himself. His history is further brought to his surface through his conversations with Anniston in the basement. Anniston’s dark history unsettles Charles but also reminds him of something within himself.

The Man in My Basement takes a little while to kick into high gear. It becomes enthralling once the two men begin their conversations in the basement. We learn about the history of both regrets, decisions, and choices. Dafoe and Hawkins give intense performances that anchor this story about two very different people confronting their own evil.

The Man in My Basement screens at TIFF ’25:

Fri. Sept 5 at 9:30 PM at TIFF Lightbox

Sat. Sept 6 at 3:30 PM at TIFF Lightbox

Sun. Sept 14 at 10:15 AM at TIFF Lightbox