I Hate the Man in My Basement (2020) User Reviews

Not a comedy in any way even though there is a few laughs.

[terrencepatrix · 7/10 · 10 March 2020]

This movie does have a few funny elements due to some clever writing and subtle acting moments between the leads but it is in no way a comedy. It is mostly a drama with a bit of mystery and romance. It's hard to really review this movie without any spoilers, but it does unfold organically, the acting is well done as is the cinematography. There's some very dark themes here and a heavy dose of what any one of us would do in this given situation. It can also be quite sad at certain moments. There is a little spicy language here and there but no overt violence or nudity.

Overall a very well executed enclosed film that keeps you guessing what will happen next and overall offers closure without just dropping it in your lap. It kept my attention the entire way through, just keep in mind this is far heavier on the drama and mystery than comedy or romance.

It's not what I expected, and that's a good thing.

[aarpcats · 7/10 · 4 August 2020]

When Claude loses his wife, he loses himself. Anger, grief, loneliness and guilt drive him to kidnapping the man who killed her, and holding him in his basement. He pushes away his friends and coworkers, who only want to help him.

Will Claude kill the man in the basement? Or will he find himself again? As the film slowly reveals both the secrets of Claude and the man in the basement, it becomes hard to tell the villain from the hero.

The movie isn't a horror movie or even a thriller. It's a delicate examination of the way getting to know someone else can change the human heart. And, in its own twisted way, it's a great antidote to our present political craziness.

The acting is superb, the script interesting and it makes me wish there were more Indy movies like it.

Uncomfortable and so many questions but still a really good watch.

[future_release · 7/10 · 12 March 2020]

I love a film that leaves you with questions at the end and this is full of questions and I'm ok with that. I really disliked the main character and his friends and felt sorry for the guy in the basement but that's ok too. Great performances, great story and nicely edited and directed.

what a terrible name for a pretty good movie

[BtzLtd · 6/10 · 13 July 2020]

I almost didnt watch this because the title alone screams "dont do it," so please excuse my surprise when i say this is a well-done movie. good performances, interesting story, some well-placed humor to not make the lead role a total creeper. the character in the basement couldve used a bit more development. the book scenes couldve gone into more detail, but its cut well enough leave a reasonable impression. worthwhile watch, or victor over low expectations? ignore the title, watch it and find out

Weird Character Development

[clydepearlwillis · 4/10 · 14 May 2022]

All of the female characters must have been selected for their weird and overly excessive eye movements. Much of the movie is a statement on how people interact on first dates/new relationships when in their 30's.

The director must believe it's cute to grab a boob on a first date, or joke about innuendos related to underage kids - though that humor doesn't entirely rule the movie. I assume he used to vehicle to enhance the theme of awkwardness in being back on the dating circuit. Claude's 40 yr old pal acts like a junior high football player with unchecked hormones. Jokes about masturbation are prevalent and inappropriate to the plot. Humans do not interact like these characters - it reeked of absurd scripting. The plot had potential and some positive moments. I think the movie would only need about 35-45 minutes to keep viewers more engaged and the story moving. The best part of the film was the dialogue between Claude and his girl about 75% through the film. Best actor goes to the detective - he was most believable.

"I Hate the Man in My Basement": There's a lot to Like

[jtncsmistad · 7/10 · 12 July 2020]

The off-off-off-OFF-kilter dramatic thriller "I Hate the Man in My Basement" is about need.

The need to grieve, avenge, love, be loved and for human interaction (now that last one's topical, huh?).

The unlikely romantic relationship between the remarkably non-stock characters played by Chris Marquette and Nora-Jane Noone needed to work in this film. And it does. These gifted pros are each fantastic singularly and together, no easy feat considering the enormously emotional and nefarious plot points in play here.

Not the least of which, that poor guy stashed under the floor.

Boring plot, slow moving, bad characters

[sberray-68862 · 1/10 · 3 June 2022]

Cannot believe this got any good ratings. Story line so slow, unbelievable and uninteresting characters, hard to get through. Kept hoping something would happen. One of dullest movies I have ever seen. Do not waste your time.

What a beautifully weird movie!

[jwvandegronden-1 · 8/10 · 21 August 2020]

I came here to check the comments, to see if people had the same experience watching this movie but to my astonishment it got stuck at a meager 5.3! Even though I know nothing is as erratic as taste, this is just downright wrong!

There are some characters in the movie who are slightly in the way, but would be missed if they weren't there, the rest of the cast is on point, and for a long time I was convinced the guy he hates was his own alter-ego. The way it was filmed hinted at that, for me at least. To learn it was the real deal, and his new girlfriend finds out about that, is such a strong moment...

And I know, scenes that seem stale at face value, if you strip them from the context of the movie, you could possibly have an opinion on them. But the story is simply a vehicle to convey deep scarring emotions, and in that light it is completely irrelevant if that scene is not entirely original. It is the emotional journey, combined with your discovery of what happened to him, to his wife, and how it currently is destroying his life from the inside out, what makes it the real story that it is. And his new lease on life slipping through his fingers, almost, simply because he went down the rabbit hole of hate and parallel to it, his situation spiraling out of control exactly because simultaneously he is trying to get back on his feet again in the real world, is so powerful, it took my breath away. And to make it even more a dream state you are carried into, that real world felt like his second life and his basement his first. I loved every minute of it!

Really powerful stuff. Well worth the watch. More than that. You rob yourself of a overwhelming experience of you skip this movie.

covers all emotions of the situation.

[kwacks · 7/10 · 13 March 2020]

This was a good film. Never over the top, it slowly showed the emotions of all the characters, and made for a good watch.7/10.

I Think Watching This Will Help Screenwriters

[pangipingu · 4/10 · 22 March 2020]

Dustin Cook's debut feature film does not disappoint one in terms of performances, direction, or cinematography (as it is a low-budget movie), but its plot includes some flaws that need correction.

A Great Surprise!

[anthonyender · 9/10 · 26 March 2023]

Gotta say I loved this one. I love movies that are not what you might expect, and with this title I wasn't sure what I'd get. The title's kind of ironic for a straight up thriller/horror film - which this flick definitely wasn't. It's more a suspenseful drama/comedy/romance with a premise you'd expect from a psycho/serial killer flick. If that description doesn't intrigue you this movie probably won' appeal to you. I was, literally, shocked at how believable some of the performances were and how invested I became in the budding romance. Yeah, the comedy performances (particularly by the friend) were a tad over the top, and yet credit to the writer/director because everyone acknowledges that fact that the guy is weird, and it always feels like it's part of the same world the rest of the movie takes place in. I liked the way the story of the man in the basement grew and I was kept in suspense the whole time wondering how everything would play out. I put the title in my queue not knowing it had experienced pro actors in it until I saw Nora-Jane Noone's name in the credits (loved her since The Descent and Magdalene Sisters) and then recognized several others faces. Well, they were given great parts and played them well.

A grim, unsettling dose of inhumanity

[umimelectric · 6/10 · 14 March 2020]

A dark indie tale that tips the scales of revenge and compassion, with a grieving protagonist who begs both for your sympathy and your contempt. This drama gives us some amusing moments peppered into its disturbing themes, but most importantly it's watchable and I never felt as if it had to struggle to keep my attention. There are elements to the story which are a little unrealistic, namely some things that unfold around the protagonist's budding romance, and I believe it would have been better overall if it had run a little shorter. The last 20 minutes sour things slightly, but not enough to overtake the surprisingly powerful performances delivered by the film's two male leads. 6/10.

20 reviews. mine included. That's actually 20 persons WASTING their time watching this utter dribble!

[imseeg · 1/10 · 4 June 2022]

Walk on by.

Forget this "thing" ever existed.

Go pick your nose.

Go to poughkipsy.

Stare at your wallpaper.

ANYTHING you will do or think of, will be BETTER than watching this dreck....

Surprising cast!

[upstarts-08733 · 7/10 · 13 March 2020]

Casting director boosted this movie. Kinda obvious the director and editors were barely better than the average crap though, if that. Matthew Lessall casting dude! Gotta say, I love it when new faces get a chance, instead of the same old overpaid crap actors.

Next on the priority list: I've gotta say, I'm only 20 minutes in. I'll check back buzz permitting) once it's over :) None the less, giving it a strong 7 atm, bc I'm not finished yet :)

Some good and bad things about this movie.

[deloudelouvain · 5/10 · 12 May 2020]

The good thing about I Hate The Man In My Basement is that it is watchable. For that the story has enough elements to keep you entertained. But there are enough flaws in this movie to make it just a movie you watch once and then forget about it. The acting wasn't good from everyone, some were better than others but still nothing that will wow you. I would have left the 'comedy' scenes out of this story, they don't work and are slightly annoying to watch. I would have put much more attention to the essential focus point of this story, the man in the basement. That's just my opinion. In conclusion I watched worse movies like I watched much better movies. In a couple days I will have forgotten everything about this movie. It's one of the reasons I write reviews, so that I wouldn't watch these kind of movies a second time.

amateur waste of time. unwatchable.

[axapvov · 1/10 · 4 May 2023]

I've seen my fair share of bad films and with only a handful of them I decided to stop watching. I got halfway through this, 53 minutes, that's enough, I'm not getting any younger. The first problem is how predictable everything is, there is zero tension, absolute zero. I don't mean predictable like bad Hollywood crap, I mean like bad student film crap. But to watch it unfold is always worse than anticipated, painful to watch, really.

The acting is terrible but there's nothing to do with these lines. The friend is a brainless cliché, the love interest is a brainless cliché, the man in the basement is more or less normal... until they develop his character. Somehow, the worst of them is the lead role, which isn't a good sign. This movie will cringe you all the way to the moon.

Great story combined with great performances from Chris Marquette & Manny Montana - this is a must see!

[feverish30 · 9/10 · 20 March 2020]

Not a long review but I had to leave this. I came across this movie knowing absolutely nothing about it and from the beginning I was glued to the screen. Rarely does a movie catch me like this as I am usually working or playing video games while a I have a movie going. I think it helps with my ADD & Narcolepsy. The slow and quiet pace of this movie combined with a slow but steady build up to some big surprises. I won't tell you any more about but the performances from the 2 lead's were amazing. I've never heard of either of these actors but i will be following them now to see what else they can do! The ending delivers proper closure to the story and will not disappoint. Watch this movie! 9/10

Human compassion overpowers hatred

[Alexsandrad · 10/10 · 22 March 2020]

This movie hits every emotion possible. Chris Marquette plays Claude who's wife was recently murdered. The emotion is captivating and you really honestly feel his pain. Manny Montana plays Logan and I honestly started feeling sorry for him as the story unfolds. All the cast were excellent. The writing is very creative and takes you through a wide range of emotion. Very entertaining, flows well, and will capture your emotions. Definitely worth watching and refreshingly different.

I absolutely do not understand the lowness of the rating

[opiaterein · 9/10 · 8 April 2021]

Another reviewer said that this is not a comedy. Okay, fine. But neither is it a romance, or a thriller. (A drama can be pretty much anything, so the term doesn't really lend itself to meaningful categorization.) The only fair thing to say is that it's all of them wrapped in one. This movie is loaded with comedy and humor, but also conflict and tension, and, for whatever the term is worth, drama, of a thoroughly gripping variety.

Perhaps some of the hate for this film is based in the fact that it's such a roller coaster. People like their thrillers to be dark and gritty, and they like their comedies to be a light and airy. This film is all of the above. It covers such a gamut that I'm honestly stunned not only that they fit all of it into the hour and three quarters that they did, but especially that it genuinely felt like one movie and not a bunch of stuff mooshed into a deformed camel. It might be very particular and peculiar, but this is a very well made film. If you like stuff that straddles the edge of the box gyrating its thick posterior while blowing raspberries at genre lines, check this one out.

Crazy emotional journey

[jenncook-66850 · 10/10 · 14 March 2020]

Really fun story with amazing performances and a very handsome director.

this was really creepy

[juanmuscle · 10/10 · 5 October 2021]

But it was nice how underneath the terror there was a heartfelt message and it took a good script to get those pathos out, the actors did a fine job, the Latin guy and the American guy did a spectacular job with a sort of mish mosh dichotomy thing back and forth that made this a worth-while experience! Highly recommend it great job.

Good until the end

[gab-67599 · 9/10 · 20 March 2021]

I love Mr. Montana he is so hot! My rating is biased on how much I love him as an actor. This movie was ok but I wish they would have explained more in the end. It kept me entertained so I do recommend, but still a bit disappointed. At times it was unbelievable ,but the actors played well off each other. An almost happy ending story was a good twist.

Underrated emotional crime drama

[taghiramzi · 8/10 · 3 August 2022]

How and why they classified this as comedy I don't know, but it's underrated for sure. It's one of those movies which you would not check the timebar while watching it. Engaging story, great acting, specially the main actor, and great chemistry between the couple. Having that said, I think it needed a few flashbacks, but that's my personal preference and the story makes complete sense.

I believe there is a symbolism in the movie, not that you won't enjoy it as it is, but pay attention:

The man in the basement is my grudges,

The man in the basement is that person that I know is toxic, yet I still keep them in my life.

The man in the basement is my old, useless beliefs and thoughts.

So I have to let it go to move forward... I have to let it go to get to the new better parts of my life.

Bottom line: I've really enjoyed this movie, I think it was great in both literal and symbolical point of view. 8/10.

Wow...just...wow! This is an amazingly well acted and written film.

[lasvegaskungfu · 10/10 · 20 July 2023]

What a surprise.🏆 A QUALITY film, in every way that matters.

Anyone that posts negatively on this film is just someone who probably trolls people on Twitter etc for the 'jollies of it' and to get a false sense of 'know it all' something in their otherwise vapid existence.

I will be recommending this film to people the way you recommend a new favorite dining spot...only with more passion/sincerity.

The main actors, in the roles of Claude' and 'Kyra' entranced me with their line deliveries...even the 'man in the basement' delivered a solid performance.

Clearly not a Hollywood budget film...but I didn't need to be. It delivered 'everything' a good film needs for this genre of storytelling.

I'm sure I'll watch it again many times...as I have 'Somewhere in Time', The Princess Bride and What Dreams May Come.

That said...yeah, I'm a sucker for 'true romance' and while this isn't 'fun-ish' like the Princess Bride or as large budget as Somewhere/What Dreams...It is an experience to be had and to recommend to others!