Noted horror comic book artist Colin Childress (a regrettably brief appearance by the always welcome Jeffrey Combs) brings a ferocious monster (the hulking Michael Deak in a gnarly animatronic suit that makes him resemble a giant hairy ghoulie) to life with the power of his imagination. Childress and the beast both perish in a subsequent fire. However, his house gets converted into an elite art academy where thirty years later hardcore Childress admirer Whitney Taylor (a perky and appealing performance by the attractive Debrah Foreman) arrives to pursue her studies. Unfortunately, Whitney inadvertently winds up conjuring the monster after she decides to emulate Childress's work. Director John Carl Buechler, working from a compact script by Don Mancini, tells the entertainingly silly story at a quick pace, maintains an engaging lighthearted tone throughout, delivers a few neat bits of splashy gore, and ends the film on a pleasingly grim note. This movie further benefits from the sturdy presences of dependable veterans Yvonne De Carlo as the stern Mrs. Briggs and Vince Edwards as smooth old school former private eye Norman Meshelski. Moreover, Pamela Bellwood snarks it up nicely as Whitney's bitchy rival Amanda while Brian Robbins makes a favorable impression as amiable abstract painter Phillip Lemley. As a tasty bonus, the fetching Cheryl-Ann Wilson bares her lovely breasts in a deliciously gratuitous shower scene. Sergio Salvati's competent cinematography gives this picture a funky stylized comic book look. Carl Dante's spirited shivery score hits the shuddery spot. The tight 77 minute running time ensures that this movie never becomes dull or overstays its welcome. Okay, this corny item might be total fluff, but it still makes the grade as a fun enough minor diversion just the same.

Cheap and trashy, this film didn't scare but thrilled me with its sense of camp. Yvonne De Carlo is such an underrated actress and is always worth taking a look at. The film is low budget and apart from De Carlo doesn't have any other well known names. The story is very simple a man writes a story about a scary monster. The monster comes to life and kills him but of course that is not the end of the monster. It waits round for more victims... This film may turn up late at night on TV, if it does turn off the lights curl up on the couch and enjoy the next hour or so. The plot cant be taken seriously so just enjoy the absurdities of it. I saw this film on VCR several years ago and cant wait for it to be released on DVD. Yvonne has made several low budget shockers over the years and this has got to be one of the best.

This is a cheap horror flick with TONS of gore. I seen this one on @ 3 AM again - had to see it only because the title itself drew me in. Actually , I wasnt too disappointed. I love all horror flicks. Has a totally late-80s horror genre feel to it. I wish I could find this VHS also. Rare stuff. PEACE

Cellar Dweller is quite an original horror offering as well as my first Jeffrey Comb's flick. Of course I didn't know it was a Jeffrey Combs movie back then, I didn't even know who Jeffrey Combs was. But, being the huge Tales From the Crypt (if you see the movie you'll know what I'm babbling about) fan that I am, the movie had an impact on me. Cellar Dweller is a very loving tribute to the EC comics that are cherished by many a horror fan. It's also a John Carl Buechler film and he created the Ghoulies. That explains why the Cellar Dweller is simply an oversized Ghoulie (some people even say that he's cute). I spent quite some time looking for this movie and gave up. It's one of those movies you see when you're a kid watching Showtime after midnight and you never expect to see it again (especially since you don't remember the title). Then you run across it in a ghetto Blockbuster years later and you realize that this is the movie you've been looking for, and, indeed, one of your heroes is in it. Great gore effects, gratuitous chewing, and Lily Munster (Yvonne De Carlo) make Cellar Dweller a classic in my book, no matter how many people disagree. "Whenever there is imagination, I will dwell." Note for genre buffs: Look for a Troll and a Ghost Town poster on the walls of the colony. John Carl Buechler did the effects for both of those films.