Nothing is scarier than having nowhere to run. Whether a deranged killer is let loose in a locked building or forces like ghosts, aliens, or sharks want to consume a helpless victim, movies sure love locking people in one solitary place. It keeps audiences on their toes as they watch the likes of Sigourney Weaver or Daniel Kaluuya figure out a way to escape their captors.
Updated on October 16th, 2020 by Mark Birrell: Whether it's the fear of a deadly pathogen or being at the mercy of a murderous lunatic, the theme of isolation tends to drastically amplify the impact of any scary movie — in some cases, it can serve as an antagonistic force unto itself. With this in mind, here are an extra 5 movies that are set almost completely within the claustrophobic confines of one location.
Right at Your Door (2006)
This harrowing drama sees an LA man trapped within his home when a series of terrorist attacks put the city into a state of frantic panic and paranoid lockdown via a mysterious pathogen that attacks the respiratory system.
Right at Your Door was already an incendiary exploration of social fears back when it was originally released but it has, sadly, only grown even more starkly frightening in its depiction of very real-world anxieties.
Panic Room (2002)
Before his sprawling true-crime epic chronicling the era of the Zodiac killer, master director David Fincher delivered an equally spellbinding thriller set within one New York home.
Jodie Foster and Kristen Stewart play a mother and daughter who have just moved into a gorgeous new townhouse. But, when burglars break in to steal a hidden fortune belonging to the previous owner, their first night becomes a tense battle for survival as they're trapped in a panic room and forced to outthink the intruders.
Misery (1990)
This delightfully dark adaptation of Stephen King's novel of the same name sees James Caan's novelist become bedridden after a car accident and placed at the mercy of Kathy Bates' enthusiastic fan who pulls him from the wreck and brings him back to her home.
As it dawns on him that his host is not quite stable and that his stay is far from voluntary, an iconic hostage situation unfolds with Bates on Oscar-winning form as the terrifyingly unhinged Annie Wilkes.
Coherence (2013)
High-concept science-fiction and improvisational drama aren't two things that are commonly placed together but the reality of the conversations only serves to make the ideas at the heart of Coherence all the more frightening.
The plot follows an old group of friends getting together for dinner on the eve of an astrological event. When a blackout begins a series of bizarre incidents, relationships are tested and fundamental notions like time, identity, and choice are shattered. As the crazy evening goes on, the diners become more and more fearful of the outside and a group of doppelgängers roaming around their neighborhood. But it also becomes apparent that they would be unable to leave even if they wanted to.
Ex Machina (2014)
Sci-fi screenwriter Alex Garland's directorial debut offered fans of the genre a chilling viewpoint on AI and surveillance in modern life with this unnerving thriller about a naive tech employee who is offered to travel to his super-rich boss's isolated home to be a guinea pig for the testing of their newest creation.
Trapped between the untrustworthy machinations of the creator and his creation, the audience feels as trapped as the main character and it makes Ex Machina one of the most affecting sci-fi movies of recent years.
The Cabin In The Woods (2011)
What’s better than one horror movie trope? How about all of them? Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon delivered this tongue-in-cheek send up to all those cheesy horror films of yesteryear.
A few college students head to a remote cabin in a forest, only to realize that dozens of different types of monsters are after them, thanks to two technicians engineering the whole thing. For those who are tired of the same old horror movies and the same tired tricks, The Cabin in the Woods is the perfect thing to invigorate a stale genre.
Funny Games (1997)
Austrian filmmaker Michael Haneke directed this home-invasion thriller in 1997 and has gained a considerable amount of controversy thanks to it. Two men break into a home and decide to hold a family hostage, subjecting each member to sadistic “games” that act as torture. Meant as a commentary on violence in the media, this film proved to be too intense for viewers, garnering criticism for what some perceived as “torture porn.”
While the film is far from comfortable viewing, it is an engrossing and nihilistic approach to filmmaking. Haneke would also remake this film in 2007 with an American cast, further amplifying his vision and commentary on society.
Murder Party (2007)
Nothing is worse than getting invited to the wrong party, especially if that party is planning to kill someone as an art project. Jeremy Saulnier delivered his first true feature with this bizarre picture. A loner named Christopher is invited to a costume party called a “Murder Party.” Unfortunately, he realizes that the name carries more weight than he thought.
Shot on a small budget, Murder Party makes use of its claustrophobic atmosphere and really aims to make the viewers uncomfortable. This is one party nobody will be able to forget.
Dogtooth (2009)
Director Yorgos Lanthimos is known for his psychological approach to genre filmmaking, using more proactive ideals among familiar genres like dark comedies. Dogtooth, his third feature, is something else entirely.
Set in a large compound, three adult siblings live at home with their parents who have not allowed them to leave the house. They are “educated” on the outside world, being told horrifying things to discourage leaving. The film gets increasingly more disturbing as the relationship between the siblings and their parents become more and more blurred. It’s definitely not for everyone though its’ a highly rewarding watch.
Green Room (2016)
What’s worse than a gig getting canceled? Probably a new gig full of murderous, neo-Nazi skinheads, as the fictional band the Ain't Rights had to learn. Murder Party’s Saulnier directs this horror-thriller about a punk band being hunted by skinheads.
Green Room is a tense and violent film that oozes so much style. It also features a great soundtrack full of punk classics and one of the greatest Creedence Clearwater Revival songs in the end credits. It also features the last performance from Anton Yelchin and a truly chilling performance from Patrick Stewart.
Midsommar (2019)
Sweden seems nice, right? Of course, it might be for anyone who does not attend a midsummer festival that occurs every 90 years.
Ari Aster’s Midsommar was one of the scariest movies of 2019, with shots evoking films like The Devils and The Wicker Man. Its use of a pagan cult in broad daylight was a unique choice, to make sure no one felt safe watching this film. It also doubles as an interesting allegory for toxic relationships, adding another layer to its themes of feeling trapped by tradition.
Alien (1979)
As the old saying goes, “in space, no one can hear you scream.” It’s one thing to try and outrun a monster; it’s another to try and outrun something that’s stuck in the same place as you while hurtling through space. Ridley Scott’s Alien is among the finest science-fiction movies ever, providing some great atmosphere and terror.
At the center of it all is Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley, on the run from the deadly Xenomorph. It’s a truly terrifying dynamic.
Get Out (2017)
Sure, aliens are scary, but what about racists? Jordan Peele’s debut feature is one of the most exciting and boldest horror movies in recent memory, tackling issues of microaggressions and white privilege while providing classic thrills on par with the likes of Alfred Hitchcock.
Taking place in an upstate New York home, the story sees Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya) uncover horrible secrets when he visits his girlfriend's parents. Peele’s first foray into horror filmmaking is a modern classic, kickstarting one of the best horror careers in recent memory.
The Shining (1980)
Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of Stephen King’s iconic novel is a classic. Every shot is iconic and has been cemented into the brains of film fans for almost four decades now. It’s a timeless story of cabin fever and the supernatural, bolstered by Kubrick’s direction and the performances of Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall.
The Overlook Hotel is a monster itself, consuming those who dare investigate its haunted halls and making isolation feel like a death sentence. It’s often considered one of the most terrifying film experiences ever.
The Thing (1982)
John Carpenter’s 1982 classic, The Thing, will make anyone distrust their roommates. After an extraterrestrial being is able to take the shape of any living being, a group of researchers in Antarctica find themselves unable to trust each other.
While the movie is popular for its grotesque special effects, it’s the tension that really makes it. The distrust among the crew in an isolated research center drives the drama, even until the very end. There is no movie that so perfectly captures what isolation can do to a group of people more than The Thing.