JuicyTalk
Charles Blakey’s (Corey Hawkins) life is falling apart. He’s lonely, he can’t find work, and he’s boozing way too much and about to lose his family’s Sag Harbor home. When a mysterious white man, Anniston Bennet (Willem Dafoe), offers to rent his basement for a hefty sum, a hesitant Blakey acquiesces despite serious doubts, especially about the decidedly odd accommodations Bennet requests.
While prepping the room for his tenant, Blakey discovers some mysterious heirlooms, possibly African tribal masks, which hint at a history he knows absolutely nothing about. An antiques buyer (played by Nanny’s Anna Diop) is able to fill in the gaps while embodying a compassionate counterpoint to his apathetic views.
The Man in my Basement premiered September 5 at Toronto International Film Festival before beginning its limited theatrical run on September 12.
