Yet another installment in the "Jeffrey Combs must die in 98.9% of his roles" evidence. His screen time is very limited here, so, sadly, this movie's hardly worth the effort it takes to stuff it down your VCR's throat! Basically, if you've ever seen one of those childhood stories where the main character can bring drawings to life, then this flick will not likely surprise you on many, if any, levels. It all starts "30 years ago", as horror cartoonist Collin Childrest (Combs) somehow brings one of his creations to life. Foolishly, his creation isn't an illustration of an orgy of hot, lusty broads baring gifts of cash and the out-of-print RE-ANIMATOR DVD, but it is instead a drawing of a big hairy demon and a dead chick. To stop the beast, Collin burns the comic... which spreads to the rest of the cellar, killing poor Mr. Childrest and destroying the studio. "30 years later", fellow horror cartoonist Whitney Taylor joins an art academy, coincidentally set up in Childrest's abandoned home. The cellar has been made off-limits, but of course Whit must poke around in the former lair of her hero, Collin. Whitney and her newfound pal Phil find a bloodstained magic book (the Necronomicon mayhaps?), and the head of the academy allows her to set up a new studio in the evil basement. What the Hell, Whit disobeys distinct orders to stay out of the basement, and is rewarded by getting a studio in the thing?! Well, at least she gets fucked over in the end! How? If you're half a retard, you still probably guessed that she winds up resummoning the dweller. Whit's rage toward her nemesis Amanda (who happens to be attending the same school) soon results in Whit creating a drawing of Amanda getting mauled and slaughtered by the Dweller. Then, the Dweller does so. So, now Whit is inadvertently causing the grisly demise of her fellow students. But, the Dweller isn't content with just being fed his lines, he makes some art of his own! This is how it works: instead of the drawings becoming reality, Dweller's killing becomes the drawings... yeah, what a "great" plot twist. Whit realizes what's happening, but when she confronts the headmistress about it, we find that the headmistress IS the monster! Or, the monster, uhm, made it, err... fuck it. When Whit tries to draw everyone back to life and the Dweller into chains, it seems to work. But, she then makes the stupid mistake of thinking she can burn the drawings and end the spell. What she gets instead is several re-dead pals and a very free and very pissed demon! It's cool that the heroine croaks and we don't get another shitty "everyone's okay" ending, but why the Hell didn't the fire destroy Cellar Dweller too?! In addition to this skip in common sense, the title is also misleading. The Dweller does much of his killing and deviltry OUT of the cellar, many in Amanda's studio/room actually! But then, "Amanda's Studio Dweller" doesn't sound as good. Not that "Cellar Dweller" is much better title-wise. Oh well, it wasn't MY money that was sunk into the creation of this thing! Finally, I had a big complaint about the Dweller himself: HE LOOKED LIKE A BIG FUCKING GHOULIE! Scary? No. Resembling a 7 foot tall Shar-pei? Sadly, yes. Maybe it's better that Combs did just have the small role.

Sequels: Nope

If You Liked This Flick, Check Out: MONSTER IN THE CLOSET or one of those "Magic Paintbrush" stories where things come to life when people draw 'em.