Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Lisa Brenner, Steven Brand, Kate Burton, Tsidii Leloka, Brad Greenquist ... see more see more... , Deirdre Quinn , Tsai Chin , Jacob Pearce Guzman , Courtney Taylor Burness , Eric Keenleyside , Ridley Pearson , Secunda Smith

Based on the novel by Ridley Pearson, The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer is a prequel to the goose-pimply 2002 TV miniseries Stephen King's Rose Red. In its efforts to "explain" the supernatural events in th... read more read more...e earlier project, this made-for-TV chiller is set at the turn of the century, when the stately, sinister Rose Red mansion is constructed by powerful Seattle oil magnate John Rimbauer (Steven Brand) as a wedding present for his timid, submissive young bride, Ellen (Lisa Brenner). At first impressed by her husband's extravagance, Ellen eventually comes to hate and fear John, especially when learning a few unsavory facts about his past. Meanwhile, the mansion seems to be festooned with ghosts, possibly those of the many people close to John Rimbauer who have mysteriously vanished. Can the eerie moanings and manifestations be interpreted as a warning to Ellen that she, too, may some day disappear without a trace? This is the sort of film in which, after someone exclaims "I'll be damned!," someone else replies, "You already are." The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer originally aired May 12, 2003, on ABC. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

54% liked it

5,472 ratings

R, 1 hr. 35 min.

Directed by: Craig R. Baxley

Release Date: May 12, 2003

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: October 14, 2003

Stats: 198 reviews

Photos


None yet... Got one?

Your Rating



clear rating

Flixster Reviews (198)


  • March 2, 2011
    "Based as a prequel to the Stephen King mini-serie's 'Rose Red', 'The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer' is based Rose Red, a haunted house with a disturbing past. The Seattle mansion was constructed at the turn of the 20th century by oil magnate, John Rimbauer, who built the house for his... read more bride, Ellen, while on honeymoon in Africa. From the early stages of construction, the house is rocked by tragedy and scandal. Murders, suicides and mysterious disappearances suggest Rose Red has a mind of its own, choosing who shall vanish within its walls. The movie hears Ellen Rimbauer in voice over read her diary and are given a glimpse of the Seattle elite in the early 1900's. We see Ellen Rimbauer develop from a young bride to a tormented matriarch. The diary entries gradually become darker and more daunting. Guests to Rose Red vanish and Ellen is afraid of her own home. Societal pressures keep her married to John Rimbauer. Aside from the house's frightening faults, Mrs. Rimbauer candidly discusses the cruel and sexually-twisted intentions of her once-admired husband. The diary includes recollections of explicit erotic acts, serial murder and sexual ambiguity. 'The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer increases in disturbance until its abrupt end."
  • May 12, 2010
    Not entirely what I was expecting. You have to look @ the title and think......well I guess I got what I paid for. Doesn't really explain WHY Rose Red was haunted which was obviously haunted before but moreso what the original family of Rose Red went through. Left me wanting for ... read moremore though. See it because it was a piece of the story but I wanted much more.
  • August 23, 2009
    at first i thought this would not be a good movie, but it turned out to be a very good movie and worth watching.
  • June 27, 2009
    This is a dark movie but I enjoyed it anyway. It started out somewhat slow then got intriguing. I was glad when Mr. Rimbauer "fell" out of the rose window.
  • May 16, 2009
    it used a lot of film from "rose red" movie which is based on ellen rimbauer and the house "rose red"...
    i actually enjoyed it... great job stephen king on both films
  • April 10, 2009
    This was ok, but the original Rose Red mini series created a better atmosphere. When it got down to it, the idea of the history of the house vs the presentation of the history of the house complete overshadowed this.
  • September 5, 2007
    I'm such a Stephen King freak so I had to rent it...this is the prequel to Rose red and I really really really liked it...you wanna be chilled but not grossed out, rent it...
  • July 6, 2007
    If you are a Stephen King fan. This is the correct way to have told the Rose Red story to begin with. Skip the mini series and watch this film.
  • March 31, 2007
    This movie is almost the companion piece to the movie Rose Red, as it shows the history of the house. It did become boring at times and the ending was something left to be disired. The acting was pretty good though as the characters seemed to have been inot their roles. The mo... read morevie doesn't really explain anything though, otherwise this could have been a fantastic film.
  • January 30, 2007
    first off i hope this is not a real diary, because it would be a real invasion of someones personal thoughts and feelings unless they left a letter wishing you to do so. but am sure it is fiction so we are ok lol..... ok good goes with rose red and because i like rose red like th... read moreis one too

Critic Reviews


No recent reviews.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

More Like This


Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • 1408
    1408 (69%)

Facts


No facts approved yet. Be the first

The Diary of Elle... : Watch Free on TV


Movie Quizzes


No quizzes for The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer. Want to create one?

Video Clips


No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Recent News


No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists


Most Popular Skin


No skins yet. Interested in creating one?