Story perspectives

Debut Film 'The Man In My Basement' Explores Race, Trauma

9/12/2025

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Summary

Story summary

"The Man In My Basement," directed by Nadia Latif, premieres in select theaters on September 12, 2025.
Corey Hawkins stars as Charles Blakey, a man facing foreclosure in Sag Harbor, New York.
Willem Dafoe portrays Anniston Bennet, a stranger who rents Charles's basement, exploring themes of race and trauma.
The film adapts Walter Mosley’s novel and marks Latif's feature directorial debut.
Dafoe and Hawkins highlight the film's emotional impact and the audience's tension during screenings.

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Story summary

"The Man In My Basement," directed by Nadia Latif, premieres in select theaters on September 12, 2025.
Corey Hawkins stars as Charles Blakey, a man facing foreclosure in Sag Harbor, New York.
Willem Dafoe portrays Anniston Bennet, a stranger who rents Charles's basement, exploring themes of race and trauma.
The film adapts Walter Mosley’s novel and marks Latif's feature directorial debut.
Dafoe and Hawkins highlight the film's emotional impact and the audience's tension during screenings.