Horror movies set in one location (think the film equivalent of a bottle episode of a television show) can be a mixed bag if the location isn’t utilized properly. If the setting lends itself to the plot device, then it can create an incredibly claustrophobic and tense atmosphere. If it’s not, the resulting film could prove to be uninspired and, well, boring. There are some truly fantastic and underrated films that take place in just one location out there, so rather than go with obvious choices like Evil Dead, The Shining or Alien, we thought we’d mention some films that may not be brought up in horror film discussions nearly as much as they should.
Buried – Coffin
If you don’t think Buried is a horror movie, then you clearly don’t suffer from neither claustrophobia or cleithrophobia, because Buried is absolutely a horror movie for anyone suffering from one of those two phobias. Not only does it feature a stellar performance from Ryan Reynolds, who really knocks it out of the park, but it somehow manages to make a one-man show that never leaves the confines of a coffin entertaining throughout its entire 95 minute runtime. It’s an excellent effort from director Rodrigo Cortés and it’s a shame that it’s not brought up more often in conversation.
Cube – Giant Cube Puzzle Rooms
Shitty acting aside, Vincenzo Natali’s (Splice) Cube is an insanely clever film whose influence can be seen in films like Resident Evil and The Cabin in the Woods). The plot is simple: five strangers wake up in a cube-shaped room that is linked to over 17,000 other cube-shaped rooms, many of which feature fatal traps. They must work together to find their way out, but as tensions rise they find that one of their own may be more dangerous than any of the traps they encounter. A remake is supposedly in the works at Lionsgate, and while it could be interesting to see how they update the plot, you should definitely give the original a watch first.
Frozen – Ski Lift
If you’re a regular reader of my posts, you probably know that I’m a huge fan of Frozen, Adam Green’s terrifying ski lift-set horror film. The majority of the film takes place on a ski lift (the shoot was apparently pretty grueling) and it’s enough to make this snow skier wary of them on all future vacations. Hatchet may get all of the attention when Green’s name is dropped, but Frozen is what he deserves the most accolades for.
Devil – Elevator
Remember when the trailer for Devil was released and a YouTube video in which an entire theater-full of people laughed at M. Night Shyamalan’s name went viral? It’s a shame that happened, because Devil is actually a pretty decent movie (if you can ignore Jacob Vargas’ multiple religious monologues). The end reveal of who the devil is may not be completely worth it in the end, but it’s able to maintain a considerable amount of tension and instill plenty of paranoia during its brief 80-minute runtime. It makes you wish that director John Erick Dowdle (The Poughkeepsie Tapes; As Above, So Below) got more work.
Splinter – Gas Station
Splinter, aka one of the most underrated creature features ever made, is a nifty twist on The Thing that really gets under your skin. The creature itself, which is never given a name, is what us horror audiences always clamor for: original. It’s a parasite that causes black splinters to grow out of its host and turn them into mindless monsters. Like many of the other films on this list, Splinter runs at a brief 82 minutes. With all of the talent on display here, it makes one wonder why director Toby Wilkins’ only other directing credit is The Grudge 3 (which is no gem, but it is light years better than The Grudge 2).
What are some of your favorite horror films set in one location? Let us know in the comments below!
