Tobin Bell & Samer Ismail in Darren Lynn Bousman’s ‘The Cello’ Trailer
by Alex Billington
November 20, 2023
Source: YouTube
“This cello is a true find… those that hear it, weep…” Destiny Entertainment has unveiled an official trailer for a mystery horror film titled The Cello, the latest film from acclaimed horror filmmaker Darren Lynn Bousman (of Saw II & III & IV; Repo! The Genetic Opera, Abattoir, Death of Me, Spiral). This is actually a Saudi Arabian production, featuring a story about a talented Saudi cellist. Based on the book by Turki Al Alshikh, The Cello, stars Jeremy Irons, Tobin Bell (the Saw series), Syrian actor Samer Ismail (The Day I Lost My Shadow, On Borrowed Time) and Saudi actress Elham Ali (Ashman, Zero Distance), in the story of an aspiring cellist who learns the cost of his brand-new cello is a lot more insidious than he first thought. The film was shot on location in Saudi Arabia and the Czech Republic. It almost seems like this is a live-action horror version of that fantastic Futurama episode “The Devil’s Hands Are Idle Playthings”, where Fry swaps with the (Robot) Devil’s hands so he can play his music better, but of course it comes with fatal consequences. It’s a very strange trailer for The Cello that barely shows footage from it – have a look anyway.
Here’s the two official trailers (+ poster) for Darren Lynn Bousman’s The Cello, direct from YouTube:
Like many musicians, accomplished Saudi cellist Nasser (Samer Ismail) has aspirations for greatness, though he feels like he’s held back by the old, dilapidated instrument he’s forced to play. When Nasser is offered the chance to take possession of a gorgeous red cello by a mysterious shop owner (Tobin Bell), he finds new inspiration both for his playing and for his composing. What Nasser doesn’t realize is that this cello has a nefarious past. As he prepares for an important audition with a prominent philharmonic, that past shows itself in the form of an ancient conductor (Jeremy Irons) and the suffering and death of those close to him. Nasser must now decide if achieving his dreams is worth the horror that comes with playing such a perfect instrument. The Cello is directed by American genre filmmaker Darren Lynn Bousman, of the films Identity Lost, Saw II, Saw III, Saw IV, Repo! The Genetic Opera, Mother’s Day, 11-11-11, The Devil’s Carnival, The Barrens, Abattoir, St. Agatha, Death of Me, and Saw spin-off Spiral most recently. The screenplay is by Turki Alalshikh. Produced by Lee Nelson. With music by Joseph Bishara. Destiny Ent. will debut Bousman’s The Cello in theaters nationwide starting December 8th, 2023 this fall. Intrigued?
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