Broke Man Haunted by Mysterious Basement Tenant in Psychological Thriller

As of September 6th, 2025, the psychological thriller "The Man in My Basement" has premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The film, directed by Nadia Latif and based on a novel by Walter Mosley, follows a struggling man named Charles, played by Corey Hawkins, who makes a poor decision to let a creepy landlord, portrayed by Willem Dafoe, rent his basement for a suspiciously large sum of money.

This setup initially promises dark thrills, as Dafoe's character brings an unsettling presence into Charles' life. However, the film quickly shifts gears, attempting to explore deeper themes around racism, history, morality, and the meaning of life. Unfortunately, "The Man in My Basement" struggles to fully deliver on these loftier ambitions, running out of steam and failing to maintain genuine tension.

While Hawkins gives an authentic performance, capturing Charles' many competing emotions as he grapples with a recent loss and the repercussions of his own actions, the film itself becomes as tortured as its protagonist. It cycles through a series of ineffective "nightmare scare" sequences, each landing with a "dull thud" according to the review. Even potentially interesting provocations, such as a bizarre masturbation scene or Dafoe's character's involvement with fecal matter, ultimately feel more like empty shocks than meaningful explorations of the film's themes.