Horror movies have warned us to steer clear of eerie basements. The latest psychological thriller, “The Man in My Basement,” introduces an additional guideline: Never lease your basement to a dubious individual. Directed by Nadia Latif and adapted from Walter Mosley’s book, the film centers on Charles Blakey (Corey Hawkins), who is grappling with the recent loss of his mother and job, while confronting foreclosure on his family’s home in Sag Harbor, New York.

Mysterious entrepreneur Anniston Bennet (Willem Dafoe) presents Charles with an offer: rent his basement for the summer in return for sufficient funds to settle his debts. But what drives Anniston’s eagerness to lease Charles’ basement? The trailer implies the presence of a cage, hinting at something malevolent.

Co-penned by Latif and Mosley, “The Man in My Basement” will debut at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. It’s being distributed by Andscape, a segment of the ESPN portfolio and the Walt Disney Company. The cast also includes Anna Diop, Jonathan Ajayi, Gershwyn Eustache Jr., Pamela Nomvete, and Tamara Lawrance.

Following its TIFF debut, “The Man in My Basement” will be shown in select theaters on Sept. 12 and will stream on Hulu and Disney+ this fall.