The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer (film)

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The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer is a 2003 American television film directed by Craig R. Baxley. It stars Lisa Brenner as Ellen Rimbauer, with Steven Brand as John Rimbauer and Tsidii Le Loka as Sukeena. The movie aired on ABC on May 12, 2003. It is a prequel to Stephen King’s Rose Red miniseries (2002) and is based on Ridley Pearson’s novel The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer: My Life at Rose Red (2001), which itself ties back to King’s Rose Red script.

Plot
Set at the turn of the 20th century, Ellen, a shy young bride, marries wealthy oil magnate John Rimbauer and is drawn into building the grand Rose Red mansion in Seattle. The house is built on land with a Native American burial ground and seems cursed from the start, with several construction deaths and strange occurrences. Ellen begins keeping a diary, charting her fears, her uneasy relationship with John, and her struggle to survive. She has two children, Adam and April. As hauntings intensify, Ellen and her maid Sukeena remain in the house even after John’s past and secrets come to light. After John dies, Ellen pours herself into expanding the mansion, hoping to cheat death. Rose Red grows with new wings and corridors while disappearances continue. Ellen herself vanishes in 1950.

Reception and release
Variety called the film an atmospheric period thriller and a solid haunted-house primer. The New York Times criticized the performances, noting that the leads’ expressions were the most memorable aspects. The movie was released on DVD by Lionsgate on October 14, 2003. Runtime: 88 minutes.