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Cellular

Cellular

Action · Thriller · Drama · 2004

A young man receives an emergency phone call on his cell phone from an older woman. She claims to have been kidnapped – and the kidnappers have targeted her husband and child next.

Movie details

Cellular

“If the signal dies so does she.”

2004 Action · Thriller · Drama 1h 34m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.4 / 10

Community rating

A young man receives an emergency phone call on his cell phone from an older woman. She claims to have been kidnapped – and the kidnappers have targeted her husband and child next.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Cellular?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Swordfish

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

David R. Ellis

Written by

Chris Morgan · Larry Cohen

Kim Basinger

Kim Basinger

Jessica Martin

Chris Evans

Chris Evans

Ryan Hewitt

Jason Statham

Jason Statham

Ethan

William H. Macy

William H. Macy

Sgt. Bob Mooney

Noah Emmerich

Noah Emmerich

Jack Tanner

Valerie Cruz

Valerie Cruz

Dana Bayback

Richard Burgi

Richard Burgi

Craig Martin

Court is in session

Put Cellular on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“Momentum is a formal choice.”

The velocity sharpens instinct and tension, making every beat land before self-importance can settle in.

The prosecution The Auteur Devotee

“Speed as an alibi.”

The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.