🕳️The Man in My Basement (2025): Cast, Plot, Release Date, Review & Where to Watch – A Haunting Thriller of Secrets, Power, and Survival

Sometimes the most terrifying monsters are the ones we invite inside. The Man in My Basement is an upcoming psychological thriller that explores power, morality, and the weight of history. Directed by Nadia Latif in her feature debut and co-written with acclaimed author Walter Mosley (based on his own novel), the film stars Corey Hawkins and Willem Dafoe in a chilling two-hander that promises to crawl under your skin and stay there.

The film will premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival before arriving in select theaters on September 12, 2025.

📖 Plot: A Deal in the Shadows

Charles Blakey (Corey Hawkins) is a man at the edge of ruin. Living in Sag Harbor, he finds himself jobless, directionless, and facing the loss of his ancestral home. Just when despair threatens to consume him, a stranger named Anniston Bennet (Willem Dafoe) appears with an unusual request:

He wants to rent Charles’s basement for the summer.

What begins as a strange business arrangement soon spirals into something far darker. Bennet’s eccentric charm hides unsettling motives, and the deeper Charles sinks into this agreement, the more he realizes that he may have let something sinister into his life—and into the foundations of his family legacy.

As the tension builds, questions emerge: Who is Anniston Bennet really? Why the basement? And how far will Charles go to keep what’s his?

🎭 Cast

• Corey Hawkins as Charles Blakey

• Willem Dafoe as Anniston Bennet

• Anna Diop as Narciss Gully

• Tamara Lawrance as Bethany

🎬 Behind the Film

• Director: Nadia Latif

• Writers: Walter Mosley, Nadia Latif

• Based on: The Man in My Basement by Walter Mosley

• Music: Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe

• Cinematography: Ula Pontikos

With Latif’s sharp direction and Mosley’s layered storytelling, the film balances intimate character study with chilling suspense. The partnership creates a story that doesn’t just scare—it unsettles, forcing viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about debt, race, and morality.

🔮 Why This Film Stands Out

• Willem Dafoe in full mysterious mode – His unsettling screen presence hints at a performance both magnetic and menacing.

• Corey Hawkins as the emotional core – Playing an everyman caught in extraordinary circumstances, Hawkins grounds the narrative in humanity and dread.

• A fresh directorial vision – Nadia Latif’s debut promises to blend psychological tension with social commentary, making this more than just a thriller.

🕰️ Release Details

• Premiere: September 5, 2025 (TIFF)

• Theatrical Release: September 12, 2025 (Select Theaters)

• Runtime: 115 minutes

📺 Where to Watch The Man in My Basement

• In Theaters (Limited): September 12, 2025

• Streaming: After its theatrical release, the film will be available to stream on Hulu in the U.S. and on Disney+ (via Hulu hub) in select regions.

So whether you want the big-screen tension or the comfort of a late-night watch at home, you’ll have the chance to step into the basement soon.

💭 Final Thoughts

The Man in My Basement is not just about a strange tenant—it’s about history, choices, and the demons we willingly allow into our lives. With its mix of slow-burning suspense, powerhouse performances, and unsettling themes, it looks to be one of 2025’s most talked-about thrillers.

This is not just a story about survival. It’s about what we’re willing to trade to keep the lights on—and whether some debts can ever truly be repaid.

🔑 Mark your calendars for September 12, 2025. The basement door opens, and what comes out may haunt you long after the credits roll.