The Cell (2000)

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Susan Granger's review of "THE CELL" (New Line Cinema)

Cinema is defined as "the art of motion pictures" and, for director Tarsem Singh (best known for R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion" music video), the emphasis is on art. Jennifer Lopez stars as a pediatric psychotherapist who is involved in an experimental research program, working with a youngster in deep coma, when she's recruited by an FBI agent (Vince Vaughn) to delve inside the mind of a schizophrenic serial killer (Vincent D'Onofrio) in hopes of saving his most recent victim (Tara Subkoff). It seems the diabolical, voyeuristic killer kidnaps young women, tortures them in an underground tank, drowns them, and finally bleaches, slices and dices their corpses while watching videotapes of their suffering as he's suspended by hooks in his back, simulating weightlessness. This gruesome, thoroughly repulsive journey inside the landscape of a perverted patient's mind is made even more perilous since the empathetic therapist risks losing contact with reality. The sadistic, repetitive child abuse theme of Mark Protosevich's screenplay lacks psychiatric plausibility. And with her seductive, whispery voice and gallons of pink lip gloss, pop-culture diva Jennifer Lopez is hardly credible as a virtual reality expert, serving instead as a shallow, ultra-chic fashion model doing perfunctory posing in a chaotic dream-world. But the daring, obsessive fantasy is amazing. Tarsem Singh's vision combines David Cronenberg with Salvador Dali, Federico Fellini with Heironymous Bosch - with a bit of "Hellraiser" thrown in. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, "The Cell" is a visually arresting but deeply disturbing 6. If digital design and stylized symbolism intrigue you, go to this unpleasant but meticulous mindtrip. But be aware that it's style over substance, amounting to less than meets the eye.